Diversity in TV Writing Staffs on the Rise Despite Fewer Available Jobs
TV writing staffs are seeing a positive shift towards greater diversity, even amidst a decrease in available jobs, as indicated by a recent study released by the Writers Guild of America.
The report revealed that in the 2023-24 season, 40.4% of TV writers were Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), showing a significant increase from 32% just three years prior. Meanwhile, the percentage of white writers decreased from 54% to 45.4% during the same period.
Despite this positive trend in diversity, major studios like Amazon, Warner Bros. Discovery, and Paramount have recently backed away from previous commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion. This shift comes amidst investigations into DEI policies at Disney and NBCUniversal by the Trump administration.
While the increase in diversity among TV writing staffs is a step in the right direction, it is important to note that overall employment in the industry has seen a decline. The data from the guild shows that there was a 6.6% decrease in employed BIPOC TV writers in 2023-24 compared to the previous year, and a significant 38% drop in employed white TV writers during the same timeframe.
Prior reports from the WGA have highlighted a decrease in employment due to strikes and industry contraction, leading to a decrease in total earnings for writers.
When looking at the film side of the industry, the workforce remains less diverse compared to TV, with white screenwriters making up 63.6% of the total. However, there has been a slight increase in BIPOC representation, with 18.9% of screenwriters identifying as such. Despite this, the overall employment level for white screenwriters has decreased, while BIPOC screenwriters have remained relatively stable.
Within the BIPOC category, Latinos continue to be the most underrepresented group, making up only 4.5% of TV writers and 2.5% of film writers, despite representing 19.4% of the U.S. population.
While TV shows more diversity compared to film, there is still a significant gap in representation across different levels of writing staffs. Lower levels tend to have a higher percentage of BIPOC writers, while upper levels like Executive Producers (EPs) and showrunners are predominantly white.
The study conducted by the WGA East and West is based on self-reported data, with approximately 16% of writers choosing not to disclose their race or ethnicity.
An earlier report showcased a significant shift since 2010, with a decrease in the percentage of white TV and film writers, indicating a positive trajectory towards greater diversity in the industry.
