Veteran Showrunner Tom Fontana Elected President of WGA East, Promising to Focus on Wage and Benefits Issues
Tom Fontana, the respected showrunner behind hit TV series such as HBO's Oz and NBC's Homicide: Life on the Street, has been elected president of the Writers Guild of America East (WGA East) according to election results disclosed Thursday evening. Fontana defeated novelist and screenwriter in a closely contested race.
Fontana will take office on Friday, succeeding outgoing leader Lisa Takeuchi Cullen, who is stepping down after her term. He will serve alongside Sasha Stewart and Michael Rauch, who were elected unopposed as secretary-treasurer and vice president of the WGA East respectively.
According to Variety, Fontana's platform emphasized the importance of addressing wage and benefits issues for writers in the industry. "We need to make sure that our members are fairly compensated for their work," Fontana said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter. "As president, I will be working tirelessly to ensure that our union is advocating for the rights and interests of all its members."
Fontana's election comes at a time when the WGA East has been facing challenges from industry stakeholders, including pressure from FCC, station affiliates, and Trump over issues such as content regulation and free speech. The guild has also been working to address concerns around diversity and inclusion in the industry.
As president of the WGA East, Fontana will be responsible for leading the union's efforts on these and other key issues affecting writers in the region. "I am honored to have been elected by my fellow members," Fontana said in a statement. "I look forward to working with them to build a stronger, more inclusive union that advocates for the rights and interests of all its members."
Fontana's two-year term will provide him with an opportunity to implement his vision for the WGA East and address some of the pressing issues facing writers in the industry. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Fontana plans to focus on "meat-and-potato" wage and benefits issues, as well as defending free speech and advocating for diversity and inclusion.
The election results were disclosed Thursday evening, with Fontana's victory marking a significant milestone for the WGA East. As he takes office, Fontana will be expected to provide leadership and direction on key issues affecting writers in the region.
In related news, Disney is facing protests over its decision to bench Jimmy Kimmel amid pressure from FCC, station affiliates, and Trump (Variety). The incident highlights the ongoing tensions between industry stakeholders and the WGA East over content regulation and free speech.
As Fontana begins his term as president of the WGA East, he will be expected to navigate these complex issues and work towards building a stronger, more inclusive union that advocates for the rights and interests of all its members.
This story was compiled from reports by Variety and The Hollywood Reporter.
