WGC report finds gains in member diversity but stagnant work opportunities

The Writers Guild of Canada (WGC) published a comprehensive report on diversity, equity, and inclusion (EDI) in the Canadian television industry, revealing both significant progress and persistent challenges in the pursuit of a more inclusive and equitable landscape for screenwriters. The report, released Wednesday, covers a total of 455 series produced between 2018 and 2022, and offers data into membership, earnings, and writer representation in the industry. One of the key highlights of the report is the steady increase in working members identifying as diverse, rising from 20 per cent in 2018 to 38 per cent in 2022. Diverse members include anyone who identifies as being part of an underrepresented community based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and disability. In the live action segment, more than half of writers working in story rooms identified as diverse, signifying a shift in the industry's composition. New members joining the Guild also reflect this change, with the share of diverse writers increasing from 29 per cent to 56 per cent in 2022. Diverse members climbed from eight per cent at the end of 2019 to nearly 16 per cent in 2022. However, “gains made by diverse screenwriters have been negatively impacted by stagnant work opportunities,” according to the report which highlights the challenges that continue to affect diverse screenwriters. Despite the gains in representation, there was a decrease in the percentage of writing jobs for diverse writers, dropping from 41 per cent in 2021 to 35 per cent in 2022. This decline is attributed, in part, to industry trends such as "mini rooms," which limit opportunities for mid-level screenwriters to advance in their careers. While the report underscores the progress made in diverse representation, it also reveals significant disparities in earnings based on demographic factors. Writers with disabilities, for example, are overrepresented in the lowest income brackets, with nearly half earning less than $20,000 in 2022. This is primarily due to the lower compensation in animation compared to live action. The lack of parity between animation and live action affects diverse writers disproportionately. Non-diverse animation writers represent 23 per cent of working writers but account for 15.5 per cent of total earnings, while diverse animation writers represent less than nine per cent of working writers and account for two per cent of total earnings. The report introduces a new analysis of industry programs that offer training and mentorship opportunities for screenwriters, including interviews with program participants. According to the report, while writers value the resources provided by these programs, concerns were raised about their effectiveness in creating genuine connections and job opportunities. Writers emphasized the need for industry programs to bridge the gap between training and job placement through initiatives such as shadowing opportunities, internships, and support for securing funding or project options. Writers with disabilities and Indigenous writers continue to face significant challenges. Writers with disabilities only saw a slight increase in their share of working writers, reaching more than four per cent in animation and three per cent in live action, with nearly half earning less than $20,000 due to the lower-paying nature of animation. Indigenous writers showed growth in their membership, rising from one per cent in 2018 to seven per cent in 2022, but inconsistent working opportunities and low earnings persisted. Indigenous writers were the only group where no one earned more than $200,000 in 2022. Women continue to build on past success, representing almost 60 per cent of writers working in live action and 48 per cent of working animation writers. Additionally, women accounted for a higher percentage of earnings than men in every category, making up 54 per cent of writer earnings in 2022. The report underscores the ongoing decline in Canadian content production, which has persisted for several years. Earnings of WGC members working under the Independent Production Agreement declined by 22 per cent over the past five years, in inflation-adjusted terms. The WGC continues to advocate for policy measures to protect its members and promote the creation of content by diverse screenwriters, emphasizing the importance of industry players supporting the Canadian system. – Reporting by Jenna Cocullo at jcocullo@thewirereport.ca and editing by Phalen Tynes-MacDonald at pcreed@thewirereport.ca

WGC report finds gains in member diversity but stagnant work opportunities

News | October 25, 2023

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WGC report finds gains in member diversity but stagnant work opportunities

News | October 25, 2023

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