THE VOICE FOR CHANGE AWARD

The Voice for Change Award, which recognizes visionary leadership in the film and television industry through making high-level, sometimes challenging choices to create positive systemic change.

In this watershed moment, we offer the Voice for Change award in recognition of the WGA’s tireless work over the course of 2023 to protect writers, ensure the viability of writing for the screen as a career path, and safeguard the role of the writer in society as that role is threatened from a variety of angles.

Humanitas has not historically involved itself with strikes, but this one is different. Our mission is to support writers whose work explores the human condition in a nuanced, meaningful way, and our mission can’t be achieved if only a select few from select backgrounds are in a financial position to do it. For too long writers have not been adequately able to participate in the financial success of their work, especially because the measure for success in the streaming era is opaque so long as viewership data remains private, and the WGA’s work in illuminating this is commendable.

Additionally, our mission cannot be carried out by machines. Humanitas distinguishes itself among artistic organizations by celebrating stories that explore the human experience, because we believe that the act of acknowledging our common humanity is transformational. As such, we have a vested interest in the conversation around generative AI, and foresee that the mechanization of storytelling could foreclose that exploration of the human experience.

For decades, Humanitas has heralded the human spirit and transformational stories at the heart of our craft. Today, we are honored to count Humanitas as an ally in defense of our humanity as writers—not just as creatives, but as working people. From its presence on our picket lines and its Groceries for Writers program, to the recognition symbolized by the Voice for Change Award, Humanitas has shown through its actions how essential our economic well-being is to the art of storytelling.

Meredith Stiehm
WGAW President

That we have been chosen by the Humanitas Prizes to recognize us with this award at this particular time is a singular honor. With the future of storytelling in danger, our two Writers Guilds have stood up to resist and strike against those who would diminish and even destroy our craft and livelihood. This action could not have been taken without the enormous support of our members, staffs and our colleagues in the many other unions who have stood by our side. On behalf of all of them, we thank Humanitas and proudly accept the Voice of Change Award.

Michael Winship
WGAE President