Ageism

Hollywood Talent Agency Sees Writing on Wall

Posted by: Anti-Ageism Task Force

—SPEAK YOUR MIND—

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Monday, August 25, 2008 —A major Hollywood talent agency, International Creative Management Inc., has agreed to settle a lawsuit brought by some 150 television writers who claimed they were discriminated against on the basis on their age.

Ageism has been a thorny issue for mature writers, many of whom are members of the Writers Guild of America; 23 similar lawsuits are seeking class-action status against major networks, production studios and talent agencies who are accused of "squeezing out" older writers in their zeal to win over younger audiences.

The agency and insurers agreeed to:

put $4.5 million into a settlement fund
establish an independent task force to examine its representation practices
participate in a job relief program

The job relief program would promote the work of older television writers who would be selected by a "neutral panel of qualified experts based on the quality of their writing."

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