Wtf? Freelancers Walk Out at MTV Networks [Via NY Times]

MTV freelancers protest benefits cut [Daily News]

Photo by Viacom staffer.

By BILL EGBERT
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

Monday, December 10th 2007, 4:00 AM

I want my 401(K)!

That's the rallying cry of freelancers planning a walkout Monday from MTV Networks, a division of media giant Viacom.

The one-hour job action, from 3p.m. to 4 p.m., will protest a new contract that cuts or eliminates freelancers' health benefits and overtime pay.

Read the entire piece on The NY Daily News' Site.

The Viacom Permalance Slave System. Via Gawker.com

Via Gawker.com:
...The Viacom Permalance Slave System

Here's what we hear from what we believe has truly become the Viacom sweatshop. (One Viacom permalancer estimates that almost 50% of the staff are contract workers at this point.) A 50-hour workweek will now be standard, at least at MTV Digital (which means no overtime until after 50 hours, and no overtime at all for higher-level people, like producers and segment producers), and all will go from a day rate to an hourly rate. Healthcare, which was offered to permalancers after a staggering year of service, will now be offered only to employees who have worked 1,280 hours (25 of those 50-hour workweeks) in any one division. And that's the catch: Get transfered, as often happens, from VH1 to MTV or the like, and you start over on that clock. ....

London Underground Map on PBS Thirteen.

The much acclaimed and graphically revolutionary London Underground Map was the brainchild of London transport engineering draftsman, Henry Beck. This documentary takes a look behind the history and creation of this world-renowned transportation system. (Closed Captioning)


Additional airdates
2:30am Monday, April 23

Chris Ware meets This American Life

One of my all-time favorite graphic designers/artists, Chris Ware created this animation for one of my all-time favorite radio shows This American Life. The new Showtime TV version.

[I stumbled upon this news at Motionographer.com]

Chris Ware books.