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WGGB Lesley

@wggblesley.bsky.social
355 followers 433 following 11 posts

Deputy Gen Sec of The Writers Guild. Also, heritage woodcarver & history obsessive - easily diverted by early medieval manuscripts..... All views my own.

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Writers' Guild of Great Britain @writersguildgb.bsky.social · 30/03/2026
WGGB members are invited to a Spring social hosted by our London Branch rep Jamie Rhodes It takes place on Weds 8 April (6-8pm) in central London To find out venue and other details and RSVP, email admin@writersguild.org.uk
WGGB London Rep Jamie Rhodes is pictured at a table which has a WGGB flag
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Writers' Guild of Great Britain @writersguildgb.bsky.social · 05/03/2026
Happy #WorldBookDay! www.worldbookday.com
worldbookday.com
Go all in for World Book Day
World Book Day 2026 books and book tokens. Inspire kids with free activities, costume ideas, and reading fun for all ages.
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The Stage @thestage.co.uk · 02/03/2026
Freelancers, this one is for you!📣 Apply now for a free ticket to this year's #FutureOfTheatre conference, in association with Arts Council England ⭐ Find out more 👉https://www.thestage.co.uk/future-freelance-tickets
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Writers' Guild of Great Britain @writersguildgb.bsky.social · 27/02/2026
At this year's Jennie Lee Lecture, @nationaltheatre.org.uk Artistic Director Indhu Rubasingham highlighted the crisis in new writing for theatre and the need for a renewed national commitment to back creative risk, something WGGB supports Our response in full: writersguild.org.uk/jennie-lee-l...
writersguild.org.uk
Jennie Lee lecture 2026: our response - The Writers' Guild of Great Britain
In response to the Jennie Lee lecture, given on 26 February 2026 by National Theatre Artistic Director Indhu Rubasingham, WGGB issued the following response:    There are troubling new figures …
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Liam Johnson @liamjohnsontype.bsky.social · 11/02/2026
Come join us!
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gailrenard.bsky.social @gailrenard.bsky.social · 09/02/2026
Let's remember no one has ever given us more money and better working conditions without a union going to bat for us. UK writers, your union is @writersguildgb.bsky.social Please join . #HeartUnionsWeek
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WGGB Lesley @wggblesley.bsky.social · 09/02/2026
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Trades Union Congress @tuc.org.uk · 16/12/2025
🚨BREAKING: Employment Rights Bill passes in the House of Lords and will become law. This is an historic day for working people across the country, and the trade unions who represent them.
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Red Ladder Theatre Company, Leeds @redladder.bsky.social · 15/09/2025
Choose hope
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Writers' Guild of Great Britain @writersguildgb.bsky.social · 04/07/2025
We welcome this new inquiry from the Culture, Media and Sport Committee, which will look at the provision of original children's TV and video content in the UK + how to ensure high quality TV and video for children can be made + easily found in future committees.parliament.uk/committee/37...
committees.parliament.uk
New inquiry: MPs to investigate children’s TV and video content - Committees - UK Parliament
A new inquiry will explore the provision of children’s TV and video content in the UK and what can be done to ensure future generations continue to have access to high-quality British-made progr...
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Writers' Guild of Great Britain @writersguildgb.bsky.social · 27/06/2025
An inspiring event at the Garden Cinema yesterday, where we heard from three leading screenwriters + WGGB activists, Olivia Hetreed, @gibbzer.bsky.social + @linelangebek.bsky.social They spoke about the art of ‘spinning plates’ - professionally, personally + in the sphere of activism + mentoring
Photo of the panel, hosted by Tosin Otudeko (left). The other panellists are pictured left to right, Olivia Hetreed, Andrea Gibb and Line LangebekFrom left to right: panel host Tosin Otudeko, WGGB Film Chair Tom Williams, Andrea Gibb, Olivia Hetreed and Line LangebekThe panellists are seated at the front of the stage while the audience looks on and listens
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WGGB Lesley @wggblesley.bsky.social · 02/06/2025
#scriptskyuk #theatre
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WGGB Lesley @wggblesley.bsky.social · 20/05/2025
#scriptskyuk #screenwriting #filmmaking #WritingCommunity We know it's an issue - help us measure the scale...
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Matt Gibbs @mattwgibbs.bsky.social · 03/04/2025
For all authors, scriptwriters, and writers, for all creatives whatever the medium, copyright protections are vital. Meta has used the works of countless creatives, without consent, to train AI. #DoTheWriteThing and #MakeItFair @writersguildgb.bsky.social @societyofauthors.bsky.social @alcs.co.uk
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Simon Guerrier @0tralala.bsky.social · 03/04/2025
Here’s @gailrenard.bsky.social from @writersguildgb.bsky.social at the head of the throng #MakeItRight #MetaBookThieves
Protestors at the Society of Authors march on Meta for the Make It Right campaign
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The Guardian @theguardian.com · 03/04/2025
‘Meta has stolen books’: authors to protest in London against AI trained using ‘shadow library’
theguardian.com
‘Meta has stolen books’: authors to protest in London against AI trained using ‘shadow library’
Writers will gather at the Facebook owner’s King’s Cross office in opposition to its use of the LibGen database to train its AI models Authors and other publishing industry professionals will stage a demonstration outside Meta’s London office today in protest of the organisation’s use of copyrighted books to train artificial intelligence. Novelists Kate Mosse and Tracy Chevalier as well as poet and former Royal Society of Literature chair Daljit Nagra will be among those in attendance outside the company’s King’s Cross office. Continue reading...
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gailrenard.bsky.social @gailrenard.bsky.social · 03/04/2025
I'll be delivering @writersguildgb.bsky.social letter, about Meta's mass theft of writers' work to train AI, to Meta HQ today, along with one of my own. It's a day of action Make a noise - Write to Culture Secretary @lisanandy - Tell Meta they don't have the right to use your books #DoTheWriteThing
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Lauren Beukes @laurenbeukes.com · 03/04/2025
OpenAI trained on a massive pirated database trained on six of my books and short stories. Meta's AI trained on a massive pirated database of THIRTY ONE of my works. Just about every author you know has had their life's work scraped and fed into the machine without consent. Please stand with us.
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Writers' Guild of Great Britain @writersguildgb.bsky.social · 03/04/2025
Today we're joining with @societyofauthors.bsky.social outside Meta's offices to protest the use of pirated works to train their AI models Here are some ways you can join the day of action: writersguild.org.uk/do-the-write... #MakeItFair
writersguild.org.uk
#DoTheWriteThing - join the day of action - The Writers' Guild of Great Britain
Following the The Atlantic’s article, which revealed that many UK authors have had their work taken without consent as part of the Library Genesis ‘LibGen’ dataset and used by Meta …
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Writers' Guild of Great Britain @writersguildgb.bsky.social · 27/03/2025
Happy #WorldTheatreDay! A day to celebrate theatre and our talented playwright members
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Writers' Guild of Great Britain @writersguildgb.bsky.social · 19/03/2025
Following the devastating news about the cancellation of River City, please sign this petition set up by our sister union @equityuk.bsky.social which has reached 6,000 signatures in just 24 hours Please also say when you sign why River City is so important to the writing community in Scotland
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Ella Watts is making Camlann Season 2! @gejwatts.bsky.social · 13/02/2025
It's World Radio Day! The BBC is making the tragic and bewildering decision to massively slash its audio drama budgets. Please protest that decision by making a short video with #SADattheBBC and tag @writersguildgb.bsky.social
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Tealin @twirlynoodle.com · 12/02/2025
13 Feb is World Radio Day, and the BBC is planning to cut drama budgets yet further, so I am starting a thread of drawings inspired by BBC radio dramas. (Leaving out worstjourney.com for now as that's its own story.) Hit social media with #SADatTheBBC to get on the radar tomorrow.
I fly in the sky with a pair of headphones and a portable radio, kept aloft by the bliss of fine audio drama.
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Alan Stafford @staffordquips.bsky.social · 13/02/2025
On #WorldRadioDay 2025 let us celebrate BBC's Drama on 3 - and make sure it's still around for #WorldRadioDay 2026. #SADatTheBBC (Save Audio Drama at the BBC) @writersguildgb.bsky.social @societyofauthors.bsky.social @equityuk.bsky.social @unesco.org www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fo2J...
youtube.com
Save Drama on 3 – World Radio Day 2025
YouTube video by Alan Stafford
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Writers' Guild of Great Britain @writersguildgb.bsky.social · 13/02/2025
Happy #WorldRadioDay! Send a video message to Director-General Tim Davie + the BBC about why audio drama is so important to you, why you oppose their cuts and why we must Save Audio Drama at the BBC #SADatTheBBC writersguild.org.uk/save-audio-d...
writersguild.org.uk
Save Audio Drama on World Radio Day - The Writers' Guild of Great Britain
Last month, alongside Equity and the Society of Authors, we launched a petition to Save Audio Drama at the BBC, following the corporation’s decision to axe audio drama from Radio …
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Miranda Davies/Emmerson @mirandaemmerson.bsky.social · 13/02/2025
For thousands of British writers (including myself) BBC audio drama was where we started, where we learned, where we explored what we could do. It's currently being dismantled, removing one rare and vital ladder for new writers in this country. #SADatTheBBC @writersguildgb.bsky.social
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Dr Andrea Smith @audioandrea.bsky.social · 13/02/2025
It's @unesco.org #WorldRadioDay - the perfect time to remind you of the importance of #BBC #RadioDrama. Radio 3 is axing it. Radio 4 has cut most of it. So here's why radio drama is important to me... #SADatTheBBC @writersguildgb.bsky.social @equityuk.bsky.social @societyofauthors.bsky.social
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Papatango Theatre Company @papatangotc.bsky.social · 11/02/2025
The Papatango Playwrights’ Studio is now open! Create a profile, connect with creatives and producers, and enjoy digital workshops, networking, one-to-one advice and funding opportunities - all at no cost. Sign up: papatango.co.uk/studio #PapatangoStudio #Theatre #Playwriting
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Writers' Guild of Great Britain @writersguildgb.bsky.social · 07/02/2025
Next Thurs 13 Feb is World Radio Day, but audio drama is under serious threat Share a short video to tell BBC Director General Tim Davie + the BBC why audio drama is important to you, the wider UK drama ecosystem + why you oppose their cuts More info 🔽 writersguild.org.uk/save-audio-d...
Blue and white flyer with WGGB logo and radio mic graphic. The text reads 'Save Audio Drama on World Radio Day' #SADatTheBBC
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Kit de Waal @kitdewaal.com · 09/02/2025
The Bridport Prize is offering two fully funded writer residencies in Dorset for writers from The Midlands and/or The North West of the UK who are working class and/or 60+ From Sunday 22 to Friday 27 June 2025. Writers must be available for the whole period. Details in link. Please share :)
bridportprize.org.uk
New! Fully funded writer residencies Working class and/or 60+ - Bridport Prize
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WGGB Lesley @wggblesley.bsky.social · 04/02/2025
Hey #theatresky #playwrights #theatre Come and join us for what should be a really interesting session ....
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WGGB Lesley @wggblesley.bsky.social · 03/02/2025
Really looking forward to this session, come and join us.....
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WGGB Lesley @wggblesley.bsky.social · 28/01/2025
Check out the new site!!
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Writers' Guild of Great Britain @writersguildgb.bsky.social · 27/01/2025
Online joining via our website is currently unavailable as we launch a new website To join WGGB or renew your membership pls contact admin@writersguild.org.uk or 0207 833 0777 Find A Writer updating is also currently unavailable We’ll be back online tomorrow + apologise for any inconvenience
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Writers' Guild of Great Britain @writersguildgb.bsky.social · 24/01/2025
📢 Write to your MP - ahead of a House of Commons General Debate on the Creative Industries this Monday - to safeguard creative rights in AI + ensure that voices of creatives are heard in the face of powerful lobbying from Big Tech Use the online tool: creativerightsinai.eaction.org.uk/MP
creativerightsinai.eaction.org.uk
Safeguard Creative Rights in AI
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Kate Barker @katebarker.bsky.social · 23/01/2025
It's pouring with rain and everything seems gloomy. But here's something useful you can do that will take less than 2 minutes. Please click the link in the email below to email your MP, objecting to the government's plan to let AI companies use creatives' work for free.
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The Sutton Trust @suttontrust.bsky.social · 23/01/2025
General employment law states that an intern is entitled to the national minimum wage, as well as other entitlements, if they are classified as a ‘worker’. However, confusion over the law and a lack of enforcement means some employers are escaping sanction.
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The Sutton Trust @suttontrust.bsky.social · 23/01/2025
Almost half (47%) of employers say they offer internships paid at least at the minimum wage 💰 The proportion offering internships paid below the minimum wage has increased to 17%, from 11% in 2018. 9% say they offer internships without any compensation.
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The Sutton Trust @suttontrust.bsky.social · 23/01/2025
There is also a growing emphasis placed on internships as a route into professional careers. 59% of employers surveyed say they now offer internships, up from 48% in 2018. 1/3 of grads who completed an internship say it helped secure their job.
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The Sutton Trust @suttontrust.bsky.social · 23/01/2025
Among those who did unpaid internships, 40% relied on the ‘Bank of Mum and Dad’ to fund their role 💳 This is up from 26% in 2018, demonstrating the increasing importance of parental support. 39% were able to live with family or friends for free. Some used their own savings.
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The Sutton Trust @suttontrust.bsky.social · 23/01/2025
On pay, three fifths (61%) of internships undertaken by recent grads were unpaid or underpaid. Most of these internships are likely illegal under existing regulations, but the system relies on interns themselves reporting non-paying employers 👎
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The Sutton Trust @suttontrust.bsky.social · 23/01/2025
Today’s report shows that the proportion of graduates who have undertaken an internship has increased by 12 percentage points since 2018, from 39% to 51%. A quarter (27%) have done multiple internships, with 10% doing three or more.
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The Sutton Trust @suttontrust.bsky.social · 23/01/2025
🚨 NEW: The gap in access to internships between working-class and middle-class graduates has almost doubled since 2018. Our new research reveals a growing gap in access to increasingly important internship routes, with many opportunities under and unpaid 🧵⬇️
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Lisa Holdsworth @lisaholdsworth.bsky.social · 21/01/2025
At a time when audio drama and entertainment is having a moment, it seems short-sighted of the BBC to cut their radio drama slots. Still, that is what they have been quietly doing. Sign the petition opposing their latest cuts. chng.it/V6QyDwkfbp
chng.it
Sign the Petition
Save Audio Drama at the BBC
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Writers' Guild of Great Britain @writersguildgb.bsky.social · 21/01/2025
Read what playwright + screenwriter James Graham had to say about writers and AI in @thestage.bsky.social today And WGGB members - come to our online townhall this Thurs on AI to help inform our response to the Gov consultation Check your inbox for details www.thestage.co.uk/news/james-g...
thestage.co.uk
James Graham: My work has already been used without my consent to train AI
James Graham has revealed his plays have already been used without his permission to train artificial intelligence, calling it a 'worrying time' for writers.
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Writers' Guild of Great Britain @writersguildgb.bsky.social · 16/01/2025
WGGB members - come to our AI town hall, Thurs 23 Jan (3-5pm, online) We'll be explaining the Government's proposals on copyright and AI, how this will affect writers and seeking your views to help inform our response to the Gov consultation Invites in your inbox (plus fill in our AI survey too!)
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Prof Dave O'Brien @drdaveobrien.bsky.social · 13/01/2025
New Paper! In @mcsjournal.bsky.social Peter Campbell @markrt.bsky.social Danny Leigh & I analyse the impact of class on BFI funding, showing 'the dominance of those from middle class origins throughout each stage of funding' journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/... (summary 🧵 coming when I get time!)
journals.sagepub.com
Sage Journals: Discover world-class research
Subscription and open access journals from Sage, the world's leading independent academic publisher.
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The Stage @thestage.co.uk · 15/01/2025
Plans to cut audio drama from BBC Radio 3 have been labelled a “devastating loss for writers and actors alike”, with critics calling it the end of the “National Theatre of the airwaves” 👇 www.thestage.co.uk/news/cuts-to...
thestage.co.uk
Cuts to Radio 3 drama will end ‘National Theatre of the airwaves’ – unions
The most recent commissioning brief for Radio 3 has removed all ‘radio drama slots’, according to Equity, the Writers’ Guild of Great Britain and the Society of Authors
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WGGB Lesley @wggblesley.bsky.social · 14/01/2025
ICYMI #ScriptSkyUK #ScriptSky
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WGGB Lesley @wggblesley.bsky.social · 14/01/2025
Remember to confirm your signature via the follow-up email - if you haven't had one, check your junk folder!
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