The Writers Guild of America Awards is an award for film, television, and radio writing including both fiction and non-fiction categories given by the Writers Guild of America, East and Writers Guild of America West since 1949.
Eligibility
The screen awards are for films that were exhibited theatrically during the preceding calendar year. The television awards are for series that were produced and aired between December 1 and November 30, regardless of how many episodes aired during this time period.
Additionally, scripts must be produced under the jurisdiction of the WGA or under a collective bargaining agreement in Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, or the United Kingdom.
Lifetime achievement awards
Each year at the awards, two lifetime achievement awards are presented. One is for screenwriting, and the other is for TV writing: Laurel Award for TV Writing Achievement Laurel Award for Screenwriting Achievement
Categories
(As of 2022.)
Film
Best Adapted Screenplay
Best Original Screenplay
Best Documentary Screenplay
Television
Comedy Series
Drama Series
Episodic Comedy
Episodic Drama
Long Form – Adapted
Long Form – Original
Adapted Short Form New Media
New Series
Animation
Comedy/Variety Talk Series
Comedy/Variety – Sketch Series
Best Comedy/Variety – Specials
Daytime Serials
Children's Script
Best Quizz and Audience
Documentary Script – Current Events
Documentary Script – Other Than Current Events
News
TV News Script – Regularly Scheduled, Bulletin, or Breaking Report
TV News Script – Analysis, Feature, or Commentary
Digital News
Radio
Radio News Script – Regularly Scheduled, Bulletin, or Breaking Report
Radio News Script – Analysis, Feature or Commentary
Radio Documentary
History
In 2004, the awards show was broadcast on television for the first time.
In the years 2008 through 2018, the awards also included video game writing.
Discontinued categories
Best Written Musical (1949–1969) Best Written Western (1949–1951) Best Written Film Concerning American Scene (1949–1952) Best Written Drama (1949–1969) Best Drama Written Directly for the Screenplay (1970–1984) Best Drama Adapted from Another Media (1970–1984) Best Written Comedy (1949–1969) Best Comedy Written Directly for the Screenplay (1970–1984) Best Comedy Adapted from Another Media (1970–1984) Best Videogame Writing (2008–2018)