Variety Survey

Variety is doing a survey of its readers. Here's most of it (there were a couple of questions that I didn't correctly copy-and-paste...but the browser wouldn't let me go back to get'em. If I recall correctly, one asked if I belonged to a Guild and, if so, which one and the other asked me if I was Hispanic):

Thank you for agreeing to take our survey. As you most likely are aware, the Writers Guild of America (WGA) is currently on strike. We're interested in your perceptions of the strike. Please be honest - your answers are confidential.

Have you been following the WGA strike coverage?

Yes
No

How have you been following strike coverage? Please select all that apply.

I read The Hollywood Reporter (print or online)
I read the comments sections on Variety.com
I read the LA Times (print or online)
I read the comments sections on latimes.com
I listen to NPR
I listen to news on commercial radio
I read Variety (print or online)
I read the NY Times (print or online)
I read the comments section on Deadline Hollywood Daily
I read Deadline Hollywood Daily
I've been actively participating in comment and message boards online
Other


We'd like to know how familiar you are with the issues involved in the strike. Below is a list of issues that may or may not be factors in the strike. Please select the three issues you think are the most important.

Classification of television episodes streamed online as promotional content
Residuals on DVDs
Residuals on cable repeats of television programs
Membership for animation writers
Limits on work hours
Residuals on streaming video
Pay for promotional online content like character blogs and short online videos
Pension issues
Residuals on first airings of television programs
Membership for reality TV writers
Residuals on video downloaded online
Health care and insurance
Don't know

We'd like to know how familiar you are with the issues involved in the strike. Below is a list of issues that may or may not be factors in the strike. Please select the three issues you think are the most important.

Classification of television episodes streamed online as promotional content
Residuals on DVDs
Residuals on cable repeats of television programs
Membership for animation writers
Limits on work hours
Residuals on streaming video
Pay for promotional online content like character blogs and short online videos
Pension issues
Residuals on first airings of television programs
Membership for reality TV writers
Residuals on video downloaded online
Health care and insurance
Don't know

Do you personally believe the strike was necessary?

Yes
No
I don't have enough information to answer

Do you believe the strike was necessary to do at this time?

Yes
No

Which side do you believe is representing their side more forcefully?

The writers are representing their side significantly more forcefully
The writers are representing their side somewhat more forcefully
Both sides are about equal
The companies are representing their side somewhat more forcefully
The companies are representing their side significantly more forcefully

Which side do you believe is representing their side more clearly?

The writers are representing their side significantly more clearly
The writers are representing their side somewhat more clearly
Both sides are about equal
The companies are representing their side somewhat more clearly
The companies are representing their side significantly more clearly

Which side do you feel is being more honest and forthright?

The writers are significantly more honest and forthright
The writers are somewhat more honest and forthright
Both sides are equally honest and forthright
The companies are somewhat more honest and forthright
The companies are significantly more honest and forthright
Neither side is honest or forthright

How much longer do you think the strike will last?

Less than another month
1-2 months
2-3 months
3-6 months
6 months to a year
More than a year

What do you think the long-term impacts of the strike will be if it lasts past December? Select all that apply.

Television and movie production will move to Canada
Viewers will watch more content online
Scripted series will find new life online
Movie script quality will decline as fewer scripts are available
Movie production will increase
Scripted series will never regain the same foothold in broadcast TV
Viewers will watch less television in general
More writers will be out of work because there will be less opportunities for scripted television
Pressure from SAG and DGA will halt most movie production
Writers will find more creativity and freedom to produce shows online
Most daytime soaps will be cancelled permanently
Viewers will watch more reality shows
Viewers will watch more game shows
More writers will take financial core status and return to work
Other (Specify:)

Do you believe that the writers are justified in taking financial core status?

Yes, if they are in dire financial circumstances
Yes, if they aren't in favor of the strike
No, writers should not cross the line under any circumstances
I don't know

Do you believe hyphenates should continue performing their non-writing duties during the strike?

Yes, their crews rely on them
Yes, as long as they aren't performing writing duties, they're free to work in other capacities
No, they should support their fellow writers
No, there's too much risk they'll be pressured to perform writing duties as well
I don't know

Do you believe that individuals should report strike-breaking activities?

Yes
No
I don't know

If the DGA reaches a settlement before the WGA, do you believe the writers should accept the same deal?

Yes, absolutely
It depends on the settlement
No, the WGA should stand firm
I don't know

Do you feel the strike was tactically a mistake?

Yes
No
I don't know

Have your perceptions of the WGA changed since the strike began?

Yes, I see them in a more positive light
Yes, I seem them in a more negative light
No, my opinion hasn't changed
I don't know

Have your perceptions of the AMPTP changed since the strike began?

Yes, I see them in a more positive light
Yes, I seem them in a more negative light
No, my opinion hasn't changed
I don't know

Do you believe the strike will be resolved in favor of the companies or the writers?

The strike will be resolved primarily in the companies' favor
The strike will be resolve mostly in the companies' favor
There will be a mostly fair agreement
The strike will be resolved mostly in the writers' favor
The strike will be resolved primarily in the writers' favor

Have you personally lost your job due to the strike?

Yes
No

Have you personally had to fire or lay someone off as a result of the strike?

Yes
No

Who, if anyone, do you think is to blame for crew and below-the-line workers losing their jobs as a result of the strike?

It's primarily the WGA's fault
It's the fault of both, but the WGA is more at fault
The WGA and AMPTP are both equally at fault
It's the fault of both, but the AMPTP is more at fault
It's primarily AMPTP's fault
No one is to blame
None of these

What do you think the financial impact of the strike will be on you personally?

Will cause significant financial loss
Will cause some financial loss
Will not change your financial situation
Will cause some financial gain
Will cause significant financial gain

What do you think the career impact of the strike will be on you personally?

Will cause significant career setbacks
Will cause some career setbacks
Will not change your career situation
Will cause some career gain
Will cause significant career gain

How do you think the strike will impact the rest of the country or people not involved in the entertainment industry?

The strike will have a significant impact on the country
The strike will have some impact on the country
The strike will have no impact on the country

How many hours per week, if any, do you spend doing the following? If you don't watch or watch less than an hour, enter "0."

                                               

	Hours per week:
Watching movies in a theater
Watching movies online on a laptop computer
Watching movies on DVD
Watching TV shows you've recorded on a DVR
Watching TV shows online on a desktop computer
Watching short-form video online (clips under 15 minutes) on a   desktop or laptop
Watching movies online on a desktop computer
Watching TV shows online on a laptop computer
Watching video on a personal digital player (iPod, Video iPod,   Zune, etc.)
Watching movies on Pay-Per-View (PPV) or Video On Demand (VOD)
Watching TV shows as they air (not shows you have recorded)

Which of the following best describes your field within the entertainment industry?

Production (crew)
Creative (writer, actor, musician, director)
Financial (producer, accounting)
Media (advertising, marketing)
None of the above

Which of the following best describes your ethnic or racial background or heritage?

White, Caucasian, European, European-American
Black, African-American, Caribbean, African, Caribbean-American
Hispanic, Latino, Latin American
Asian-American, Asian, Pacific Islander
Arab, Middle Eastern
American Indian, Native American
Other

For statistical purposes only, we would like to know your total family income for 2006. Which of the following categories best represents your total family income?

Under $75,000
$75,000-$99,999
$100,000-$199,999
$200,000-$299,999
$300,000-$399,999
$400,000-$499,999
$500,000-$599,999
$600,000-$699,999
$700,000-$799,999
$800,000-$899,999
$900,000-$999,999
Over $1 million
Prefer not to answer

So, looking at these questions, do you think they are straight-forward and objective or do you think they reveal an agenda of some kind? That isn't a leading question...I genuinely want to know how you read the questions and what significance you think should be given to the survey's results.

Comments

[Richard Cooper]

I don't see any obvious "push polling" that would tend to color one side of the issue in a negative light while purporting to be neutral.

I think it's important to know how much the internet and DVDs are impacting the lives of working writers, and there should be comparison with non-writer demographics in order to blow more holes in the producers loose arguments against paying certain types of royalties.

[Richard S. Wheeler]

There are significant issues missing in this survey. It makes no attempt to evaluate the importance of writers to the entertainment industry, and it makes no attempt to look at history: what writers gained or lost in the past. It makes no attempt to evaluate how writers compare financially with other talented people in the entertainment business, such as directors and actors. This is a rather hostile survey, mostly because of what is left out.

[Bill Peschel]

Hmmm, they ask three times if you thought the strike was a mistake.

And the question "Who, if anyone, do you think is to blame for crew and below-the-line workers losing their jobs as a result of the strike?" seems unnecessary. That's a side-effect of production shutting down. Note that they don't ask "who is more responsible for the strike happening?", so this seems like a push question.

Note also that there's no question on the lines of -- and excuse me if this is inaccurate -- "writers earn an average of 8 cents per DVD sale. Do you think this is appropriate?"

In the end, it doesn't quite smell like a push poll, but it leans in that direction. Never ascribe to conspiracy what can be accomplished by incompetence.

[guyot]

Variety's coverage has been so slanted in favor of the AMPTP, it's embarrassing.

After this strike, I will no longer take anything printed in Variety or the HR seriously.