Fans4writers

Fans4Writers is a movement of fans supporting the striking writers of the WGA during the 2007 Writers Guild of America strike. The organization is not associated with the WGA, and indeed is notable for its unprecedented show of solidarity by individuals who are neither directly involved in contract negotiations, nor have a financial stake in the outcome.

While the group was first proposed by fans of Joss Whedon, it now embraces more than 40 self-identified fandoms, calling themselves "fans of TV shows and movies, fans of actors, fans of directors, fans of producers, crew and everyone involved in the team effort of crafting wonder. But most of all we are fans of writers, because they are where the wonder begins. They write the words we remember, they create the characters we love, they think up the lines that stay with us forever.

"As supporters of the people behind the scenes, who develop and write the stories that have meant so much to so many, we wanted to do something tangible to show them that we support the Writers Guild of America strike."

Fans4Writers is soliciting financial support for its activities. So far, this has included bringing food to picket lines; it also plans to place at least one ad in a trade publication. Any money left over after the strike is to be contributed to the WGA Strike Fund.

The organization states that it supports "the writers in their fight for fair treatment and equitable pay...with our thoughts, with food deliveries, with money, and we will pick up signs and march with them until a resolution is found. We do it in appreciation, and because it's right."

The Internet-based fan movement has received press coverage ancillary to the strike itself
. Its existence and activities highlight one of the main sticking points in the contract negotiations -- the significance of the Internet and other "new media" distribution channels.

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