Writing Off Careers

Ian Bernard’s Counterpunch article “Blacklists, Gray Hairs: Ageism From Agents” (Calendar, Aug. 19) speaks of the difficulties older writers face in their careers.

As a TV and film writer of a certain age, I can empathize with and corroborate much of what he says about ageism in the entertainment industry. However, as chairperson of the Age Discrimination Committee of the Writers Guild of America, West, I’ve got a few corrections.

His statements that the Writers Guild has done “cursory examinations of the problem . . . with no real results” and that “everyone is turning their heads” ignore the fact that we have consistently, publicly and vigorously challenged the practice of age bias.

Of all the entertainment guilds and unions, the Writers Guild is known as the outspoken cutting edge in an ongoing confrontation with the vicious mind-set that victimizes writers.

In terms of longstanding prejudice and perceptions, “real results” can only be measured in increments. While most industry doors do remain closed to scores of talented older writers, our guild continues to sensitize executives to the issue of ageism.

Once the general public understands that it’s being denied the talents of gifted older writers and joins with the Writers Guild, the utterly stupid, morally loathsome and illegal practice of ageism will crumble.

MORT THAW

West Hollywood