Fewer BIPOC TV writers have advanced to showrunner positions despite having more experience than White TV writers, according to a survey.

Fewer BIPOC TV writers have advanced to showrunner positions despite having more experience than White TV writers, according to a survey. According to The Think Tank for Inclusion and Equity’s “Behind the Scenes: The State of Inclusion & Equity in TV Writing” report, which surveyed more than 875 working TV writers, 70% of “historically excluded” writers who developed new series projects in the past five years did so without pay compared to 53% of non-marginalized writers. Eighty-one percent of upper-level White writers with no prior management experience have been contracted to showrun their development projects compared to only 67% of upper-level BIPOC writers who do have management experience. Meanwhile, 68% of White male and 56% of White female respondents who worked as assistants in the past secured their first TV writing job after being promoted from assistant ranks compared to only 26% of BIPOC men and 20% BIPOC women who worked as assistants. YPulse’s Representation in Action trend report found that nearly half of BIPOC young consumers have watched a TV show / movie because it had a diverse crew behind it. (Deadline)