Striking writers had a special message for Fox executives Friday morning. One sign bore a doctored photo of Peter Chernin, president of Fox parent News Corp., extending his middle finger over the legend, "Write this!" Writers Guild of America members have reason to be particularly steamed with Chernin. During a Wednesday earnings call with analysts, Rupert Murdoch's top lieutenant had the temerity to suggest that, far from being a fearsome prospect, the writers strike could be a good thing for Fox. Calling the strike "probably a positive" for the company, Chernin added: "We save more money in term deals and, you know, story costs and probably the lack of making pilots than we lose in potential advertising."
See "Fox sees dollar signs in picket lines", Scott Collins, Los Angeles Times, November 11, 2007