Writers Guild of America, East Releases Resources for Scripted Podcasting
Launch Includes a Template Scripted Podcast Agreement and a Podcast Series on Writing and Producing Scripted Podcasts
NEW YORK, NY (December 3, 2019)—The Writers Guild of America, East today launched a campaign to support members who write and produce scripted podcasts.
The Guild launched a new section on its website that includes a template scripted podcast agreement and other resources to protect writers. The site notes, “The Guild can cover your scripted podcast. In fact, we’ve also organized the writer-producers who craft nonfiction podcasts at Gimlet, where contract negotiations are underway. While there aren’t negotiated minimum rates or other terms for scripted podcasts, the Guild can do one-off agreements covering them.
The template scripted podcast agreement and other resources can be found at www.wgaeast.org/podcasting.
In addition, the Writers Guild of America, East today released The OnWriting Guide to Crafting Scripted Podcasts. Over two episodes, listeners will take a deep dive into the business and creative sides of writing and producing scripted podcasts with the help of the people behind hit series like LIMETOWN and HOMECOMING. The two episodes are available here as well as on streaming services like iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher and more.
In Part One of The OnWriting Guide to Crafting Scripted Podcasts, Zack Akers (LIMETOWN), Alicia Van Couvering (HOMECOMING) and Lowell Peterson (Writers Guild of America, East) discuss the business of scripted podcasts. They give an overview of the current market for scripted podcasts, discuss budgeting to create a pilot episode and suggest ways for writers to protect their intellectual property.
In Part Two, Zack, Alicia and Lowell are joined by Danielle Trussoni (CRYPTO-Z) and River Donaghey (AMERICAN AFTERLIFE) to discuss their experiences with the creative elements involved in crafting scripted podcasts. The guests cover issues like how writing for fictional podcasts differs from writing for other mediums, who you need for your “dream team” cast and crew, and what to consider when you plan your production schedule.
Writers Guild of America, East executive director Lowell Peterson conceived the project after more than a year of speaking with members. The OnWriting Guide to Crafting Scripted Podcasts is hosted by Kaitlin Fontana, and written and produced by WGAE communications coordinator Molly Beer.
“The OnWriting Guide to Crafting Scripted Podcasts offers insights from podcasting professionals for members who want to learn about the business and creative side of scripted podcasting,” Lowell Peterson says. “The WGAE is paying close attention to the development of this form and we aim to gather and share knowledge – and to improve conditions for writers who do this work.”
The WGAE has organized nonfiction podcast writer-producers at Gimlet, The Ringer and Slate as part of a broader campaign to raise standards in digital media. In the last four years, the Guild has organized CBSN – CBS News’ 24-hour live streaming network – as well as digital newsrooms at The Dodo, Fast Company, Gizmodo Media Group, Hearst Magazines, HuffPost, Intercept, MTV News, Onion Inc., Refinery29, Salon, Talking Points Memo, ThinkProgress, Thrillist, VICE, and Vox Media. The WGAE now represents nearly 6,000 writers in film, television, news and new media.
OnWriting is the official podcast of the Writers Guild of America, East. The podcast has featured special episodes dedicated to our diversity initiatives like the Made in NY Writers Room, as well as in-depth interviews with Guild members like Warren Leight (LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT), Lorene Scafaria (HUSTLERS), Lauren Ashley Smith (A BLACK LADY SKETCH SHOW), Hasan Minhaj and Prashanth Venkataramanujam (PATRIOT ACT), Edward Norton (MOTHERLESS BROOKLYN), and many more.
ABOUT WRITERS GUILD OF AMERICA, EAST
The Writers Guild of America, East, AFL-CIO (WGAE) is a labor union representing writers in film, television, news and new media. The Guild negotiates and administers contracts that protect the creative and economic rights of its members; conducts programs, seminars and events on issues of interest to writers; and presents writers’ views to various bodies of government. For more information on the Writers Guild of America, East, visit wgaeast.org.
###
