Looking for well-balanced coverage of the Writers Guild of America strike, I kept tripping over attempts to substitute sly sneers for good journalism.

Even the New York Times seems somewhat convinced that hand-wringing about a temporary cessation in prime-time melodrama is a substitute for well-verified information about the issues.

As variously indicated by those who sneer, the screen writers aren't coal miners. Nor are they either spinning mill workers or truck drivers.

Yes, and the fundamental issue is still fair pay for work done.

As is usually the case, corporate management believes "less is more." To wit, less for the screenwriters is more for them.

Oh, and no top management doesn't care if screenwriters in the surplus labor pool (not currently employed) lose their health insurance, their homes, or worse.

The screen writers do a clear, straightforward and entertaining job of explaining their issues in the video Why we fight.

Just hit the play button the middle of the screen:

If after careful consideration you share my view that they're right, stop crossing the picket line so often.

Don't wait for your favorite shows to run out of pre-strike copy.

If you can't go cold turkey, I know you're tough enough to turn the television set off after the news and stay away from Web downloads of prime-time shows until after the studios reach an appropriate agreement with the screen writers.