WGA East Reaches “Landmark” Agreement With Hearst Magazines Media, Averting Threatened Strike

Members of the WGA East employed by Hearst Magazines Media have overwhelmingly ratified what the guild is calling a “groundbreaking” first contract that covers some 560 writers, producers and editors at 28 of the publishing giant’s brands, including Esquire, Cosmopolitan, Harper’s Bazaar, Town & Country, Good Housekeeping, Popular Mechanics, Car & Driver, Oprah Daily, Seventeen, Elle, Redbook and Woman’s Day.

Writers Guild of America East announced on Thursday that its members at Hearst Magazines have voted to ratify its first labor contract, ending a two-year struggle to unionize staffers at the media conglomerate in the face of management resistance that was met with writer walkouts and formal charges of unfair labor practice. “This contract will establish and codify many important workplace benefits and protections, including industry-standard wage floors, minimum guaranteed annual wage increases, just cause, gender-neutral bathrooms, a path to reporting discrimination, and a diversity committee to help hold the company accountable to more equitable hiring practices,” said the Hearst Magazines Union Bargaining Committee in a statement.

Welcome to Global Breakouts, Deadline’s fortnightly strand in which we shine a spotlight on the TV shows and films killing it in their local territories. The industry is as globalized as it’s ever been, but breakout hits are appearing in pockets of the world all the time and it can be hard to keep track… So we’re going to do the hard work for you.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer The Directors Guild of America is continuing its negotiations with the AMPTP, as companies hope to get a deal that could play a role in ending the two-week-old writers strike. Meanwhile, the Writers Guild of America told members Monday that the guild is winning the “PR war” against the studios, as members share their stories in the media. “It seems the whole world is on our side,” wrote Lisa Takeuchi Cullen, a WGA East vice president, in an email to members titled “Our Momentum Grows.” “Members’ individual stories of our broken system — of getting by on ten weeks of work a year, of residual checks amounting to pennies — are resonating with the public. They understand we are losing out on the middle-class American Dream. We are not the elite. We are just like them. We are them.”

Natalie Cassidy seemed worlds away from Sonia Fowler over the weekend as she let her hair down to celebrate her 40th birthday surrounded by her EastEnders co-stars.The actress, who has starred on the BBC soap on-and-off since 1993, celebrated her milestone birthday with a huge party that saw most of Albert Square's biggest stars forget the troubles of Walford as they hit the town. Natalie – who has opened up on her fitness journey – looked gorgeous in a white suit as she partied the night away at a pub in Essex with her nearest and dearest, including boyfriend Marc Humphreys.

Marc Malkin Senior Film Awards, Events & Lifestyle Editor The Tonys has asked the Writers Guild of America for a waiver in order to go ahead with plans for Broadway’s biggest night of the year. A source confirms that the request was filed with the WGA earlier this week. If the waiver is not granted, the televised ceremony – set for June 11 — will probably be canceled because presenters and nominees are unlikely to cross picket lines. Ariana DeBose is set to return as host but it is believed she’ll cancel if the strike is still on. The Tonys are scheduled to take place at the United Palace in New York’s Washington Heights. The ceremony starts at 8 p.m. ET and air live on CBS, as well as the streaming service Paramount+.

EXCLUSIVE: The Writers Guild of America East took down the FBI today.

Two family-focused media companies are joining forces, with Sony-owned subscription streaming outlet Pure Flix set to merge with cable and FAST programmer Great American Media.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter “The Last of Us” Season 2 is feeling the effects of the writers’ strike. Casting for the second season of the smash hit HBO series had been underway until earlier this week when it was put on hold, according to an individual with knowledge of the production. Prior to that, however, multiple sources say that the casting team was asking actors to read sides taken directly from “The Last of Us Part II,” the video game on which the second season will be based, due to the fact that there are no scripts for Season 2 at this time. The hope is for the season to begin shooting in early 2024 in Vancouver.

hip-hop turns 50 and we pull back the lens to see its full story, we can appreciate the rappers who truly changed the game from an artistic and business perspective. That list wouldn’t be complete without including the groundbreaking trio from East Orange, New Jersey: Naughty by Nature.They started out performing at their high school talent show and went to the moon. Initially, Vin Rock (Vincent Brown) and DJ KayGee (Keir Lamont Gist), who joined me on this week’s “Renaissance Man,” enlisted Treach (Anthony Criss) to round out the group.

Byron Allen’s media company has sued McDonald’s for $100 million, accusing the fast-food Goliath of not living up to its pledge to spend a set percentage of its billion-dollar annual advertising budget with Black-owned outlets.Allen Media Group divisions Entertainment Studios and Weather Group filed the action late last week in Superior Court of California. The lawsuit alleges fraud and “false promise” in violation of state civil code, and seeks in excess of $100 million.

A British woman claims she was 'butchered,' lost her right breast and was left fighting for life after undergoing 'botched' cosmetic surgery in Turkey.

“You make billions/pay us some!” striking Writers Guild of America members chanted on the street of New York today near where filming was going on for Showtime’s Billions.

King Charles III's Coronation will mark a significant milestone in British history as he takes to the throne. His wife Camilla will also be crowned as Queen Consort during lavish ceremony at Westminster Abbey, with the Royal Family in attendance such as the Prince and Princess of Wales, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis.

exceptions like “Ellen,” the talk shows that continued airing new episodes avoided crossing picket lines by not using scripts of any kind. So long as there was no content created by a writer, the show could honor the strike and still make new episodes.This resulted in a lot of improvisation — riffing, really — by these shows’ hosts and performers.

Patric Verrone knows a thing or two about negotiations between the writers and studios.

Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers are making sure that their writing staff are supported.

Ron DeSantis is expected to sign a bill that would void Walt Disney World’s development agreement with a special district overseeing the theme parks and resorts, the latest move in a bitter battle between the company and the governor.

There’s no telling how long the Writers Guild of America strike will last, but as it enters its second day, guild leaders expect it to still be going by May 15, when they’re planning to stage massive rallies on both coasts. The last writers strike, in 2007-08 lasted 100 days, and the one before that, in 1988, lasted 153 days.