'Next Top Model' writers want union status

LOS ANGELES, July 21 (UPI) -- Writers for the hit reality show, "America's Next Top Model," walked off the job in Los Angeles, threatening to strike if they could not join the Writers Guild.

"America's Top Model" is one of the CW network's top shows and in its seventh cycle, the Los Angeles Times reported. The season series debuts Sept. 20.

Writers stood outside the show's offices wearing red "United We Stand" T-shirts with the Writers Guild of America's logo and passing out fliers titled, "Free to be Union? Not at the CW's America's Top Model."

The writers say they are key to the show's success, while producers say writing for a reality show is not the same as working on a scripted program.

Though reality shows claim to show spontaneous events, many have writers who feed lines to participants, create story lines and edit the final product.

"There is absolutely no ill will or rancor from anyone in 'America's Next Top Model' toward the employees in their activities with their WGA," said Ken Mok, president of Anisa Productions Inc., the show's producer.

"All of us respect their legal rights to pursue a path that they feel best serves them," Mok said.