Off the Wire: News for the Canadian media freelancer Mar 19-25
Once a week, we gather stories about the media business, journalism, writing, communications, and freelancing—with a Canadian focus—and share them in Off the Wire. Who needs a water cooler?
From Canada:
- Government funding for journalism: to what end? [J-Source]
- Ratification vote next week – CMG-CBC tentative agreement [CMG]
- Rogers Media is out of magazine business as it agrees to sell all remaining titles to St. Joe’s [Canadian Magazines]
- Toronto Life owner St. Joseph Communications to buy Rogers magazines [Globe and Mail]
- Media companies on notice over traumatized journalists after landmark court decision [J-Source]
- Media union welcomes federal aid for news industry, cautions about possible loophole [CMG]
- Here’s why Concordia students are striking against school internship policies [J-Source]
From The U.S. and beyond:
- Research from Canada suggests journalists’ creed can withstand government support [Nieman Lab]
- Why are digital newsrooms organizing now? [Nieman Lab]
- Global media back call for UN to adopt convention on safety of journalists [IFJ]
- When freelancing and friendship don’t mix: a cautionary tale [Freelancers Union]
- Double Your Freelance Writing Income: 5 Ways to Make it Happen [The Write Life]
- For the record: 18 journalists on how—or whether—they use tape recorders [CJR]
Recently on Story Board:
- CWA Canada seeks writer for union history project: CWA Canada, the country’s only all-media union, is looking for a journalist/writer to research and write a 50-page booklet on the history of the union…
- Applications open for the 2019 Forum Freelance Fund hostile environment training bursaries: The deadline for this annual competition is April 13 2019. Winners of the bursaries (worth up to $2500) will be notified by May 31 and will have up to two months to choose a hostile environment training course from an approved provider…
Spot a story you think we should include in next week’s Off the Wire? Email the link to editor@thestoryboard.ca or tweet us at @storyboard_ca.
CWA Canada seeks writer for union history project
CWA Canada, the country’s only all-media union, is looking for a journalist/writer to research and write a 50-page booklet on the history of the union.
Please apply if you write with flair, have proven research and organizational skills, are able to work independently – and always meet deadlines.
The project is to be completed by December 2019 with the booklet to be published in 2020.
We offer excellent compensation.
CWA Canada is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from members of equity-seeking groups.
CWA Canada represents over 6,000 workers at media companies such as the CBC, The Canadian Press, Thomson Reuters, VICE Canada and newspapers coast to coast.
Please email a cover letter, resume, and three samples of your work to: info@cwa-scacanada.ca
The deadline for applications is Wednesday, April 3 at 3 p.m. ET.
Applications open for the 2019 Forum Freelance Fund hostile environment training bursaries
Applications opened this week for the 2019 Forum Freelance Fund competition. The fund provides bursaries to help Canadian freelancers pay for hostile environment training.
The deadline for this annual competition is April 13 2019. Winners of the bursaries (worth up to $2500) will be notified by May 31 and will have up to two months to choose a hostile environment training course from an approved provider. Bursaries must first be applied to course fees with the remainder to be used for travel costs.
The Canadian Journalism Forum on Violence and Trauma runs the competition in association with the Rory Peck Trust, a U.K.-based organization devoted to promoting the safety of freelancers.
Information about the application requirements are available on the Canadian Journalism Forum on Violence and Trauma website.
Off the Wire: News for the Canadian media freelancer Mar 12-18
Once a week, we gather stories about the media business, journalism, writing, communications, and freelancing—with a Canadian focus—and share them in Off the Wire. Who needs a water cooler?
From Canada:
- How Doug Ford is endangering local news ecosystems [J-Source]
- Deadline approaching for CBC New Indigenous Voices media training course [CBC]
- Working as the newsroom’s “Diversity Hire” [The Tyee]
From The U.S. and beyond:
- Network like it’s 1999: Why writers need to pound the pavement [Freelancers Union]
- How to stay productive during dry spells [Working Not Working]
- ‘This could ruin us’: A class-action suit imperils California freelancers [CJR]
- How to Schedule Your Day When You Freelance or Work From Home [Lifehacker]
- How journalism got so out of touch with the people it covers [CJR]
- 9 ways freelance women can help each other get ahead [Freelancers Union]
- The Staff Of Gimlet Media Is Unionizing [BuzzFeed]
- Forget time management, focus on energy management [Freelancers Union]
Recently on Story Board:
- The Born Freelancer’s Q&A with “Light Writer” Maggie MacPherson: As a word person (primarily) I’ve always been fascinated by those skilled in the visual arts. Maggie MacPherson is a Vancouver-based freelance photographer whose work I admire greatly. A lifelong hobbyist, she turned professional about five years ago…
- PWAC Toronto editing seminar March 25: “Polishing Your Work: From Expert Tips to Editorial Workflows” is presented by PWAC Toronto Chapter and Magazines Canada on Monday, March 25 from 7:15 to 8:45 p.m. at the Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre…
Spot a story you think we should include in next week’s Off the Wire? Email the link to editor@thestoryboard.ca or tweet us at @storyboard_ca.
The Born Freelancer’s Q&A with “Light Writer” Maggie MacPherson
This series of posts by the Born Freelancer shares personal experiences and thoughts on issues relevant to freelancers. Have something to add to the conversation? We’d love to hear from you in the comments.
As a word person (primarily) I’ve always been fascinated by those skilled in the visual arts. Maggie MacPherson is a Vancouver-based freelance photographer whose work I admire greatly. A lifelong hobbyist, she turned professional about five years ago.
The Born Freelancer: So, Maggie, what motivated you to “go pro”?
Maggie MacPherson: I remember the day I nervously took a big breath, and proudly proclaimed “I’ve decided to become a photographer”. My partner looked back at me with confusion and said “… but you already are a photographer.”
I had already been doing headshots and creative photoshoots for years but it was properly charging for my work that made me consider myself a professional photographer.
It’s tempting to keep doing free work so you can just treat your work like art all the time and can therefore never fail. To me, being a professional artist means being good enough at your craft that you can collaborate with clients to get them what they need (regardless of what you might feel inspired to create in that moment).
TBF: Did you need specialized training to become a pro?
Read the rest of this post »
PWAC Toronto editing seminar March 25
Toronto-area writers, there’s an evening seminar coming up that will teach you how to do a better job of editing your own work.
“Polishing Your Work: From Expert Tips to Editorial Workflows” is presented by PWAC Toronto Chapter and Magazines Canada on Monday, March 25 from 7:15 to 8:45 p.m. at the Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre.
At this evening seminar, three editors from different areas of publishing (consumer, freelance and agency) will share their best tips for freelance writers on how to polish their work, keep clients happy and get repeat business. We’ll talk about preparing your work for submission, editing, proofreading, style guides and more.
The speaker panel consists of:
Liann Bobechko is the Deputy Editor at Cottage Life, where she handles feature profiles, service and how-to pieces, articles on science and the environment, issues pieces, personal essays, recipes, and building projects for the magazine and online. After more than 15 years in the business, she still gets a thrill from seeing an idea become real on the pages of a magazine.
Franklin Carter is a self-employed editor and certified proofreader who works in Toronto on non-fiction books, magazines, reports and occasionally websites. In recent years, he has edited and proofread military books, multi-author medical reports, accounting journals, agricultural magazines and an annual review of censorship in Canada. He founded Franklin Carter Editorial Services in September 1996.
Kat Tancock is cofounder of custom content agency Tavanberg. She has worked as an editor at Reader’s Digest, Best Health, Canadian Living and Food & Drink and her writing on travel, food, health and other topics has appeared in titles such as Westjet Magazine, enRoute, the San Francisco Chronicle and The Globe and Mail.
COST: PWAC Toronto Chapter evening seminars are free for PWAC members and full-time students. The fee is $15 for non-members who register online, and $10 for members of partner organizations (Association of Registered Graphic Designers, CMG Freelance and Editors Canada) who register online. Fees are subject to service charges. Online registrations close at midnight the day before the event. If you do not register online, the cost is $20 at the door (cash only). Receipts are available.
The seminar venue is fully accessible, including washrooms. Space is limited, and tickets are available online now. You can register for a ticket at this link.
Off the Wire: News for the Canadian media freelancer Mar 5-11
Once a week, we gather stories about the media business, journalism, writing, communications, and freelancing—with a Canadian focus—and share them in Off the Wire. Who needs a water cooler?
From Canada:
- Applications now open for the 2019 EU-Canada Young Journalist Fellowship [J-Source]
- Facebook Canada announces $2.5 million investment in Canadian news industry [J-Source]
- CWA Canada part of global effort by municipalities to tackle precarity [CWA Canada]
From The U.S. and beyond:
- What can you do when your editor ghosts you? [The Freelancer]
- International Women’s Day: Time for more women to lead media and unions [IF]
- 5 strategies for freelance writing success [Freelancers Union]
- THE PITCH: Wired’s exec editor seeks stories that reveal all faces of technology [Nieman Storyboard]
- Amid mass layoffs in the media industry, what should freelancers do? [Freelancers Union]
- Committee to Protect Journalists Women’s Safety Survey 2019 [CPJ]
- Should freelancers enter their work for awards? Here’s 6 proven benefits (even if you don’t win!) [Being Freelance]
- Achieve cleaner copy with these proofreading pointers [Journalism.co.uk]
Recently on Story Board:
- Webinar: Tax time freelance finances: Tax time is coming up and a CMG Freelance free webinar is just what you need to start to learn how to run your sole-proprietorship finances…
- PWAC panel advises freelancers to ask for raises: Stagnant or low rates should motivate freelancers, not make them timid. That’s according to a panel of experienced freelancers who spoke recently at an event in Toronto called “Let’s Talk Rates: How to Ask for What You’re Worth and Get Paid On Time”…
Spot a story you think we should include in next week’s Off the Wire? Email the link to editor@thestoryboard.ca or tweet us at @storyboard_ca.
Webinar: Tax time freelance finances
Tax time is coming up and a CMG Freelance free webinar is just what you need to start to learn how to run your sole-proprietorship finances.
Mark your calendars for Tuesday, March 26th at 12 noon ET (9am PT) for a financial “lunch-and-learn” (or “breakfast-and-learn” if you’re on the west coast) with the New School of Finance.
The webinar will answer questions such as:
– How do I know if something is a business expense or a personal expense?
– How much should I be saving for income taxes?
– What about HST – what is that?
The webinar will be presented by Liz Schieck, certified teacher & financial coach from the New School of Finance, an unbiased financial planning and financial coaching firm.
To register click on this link. When the form asks for your affiliation type Storyboard.
The live version of this webinar is free. We’ll be making a recorded version available to members of CMG Freelance after the event.
BONUS! CMG Freelance is also offering a limited number of free tuition spots in the New School of Finance’s online Sole Proprietor Course, a $400 value. Some of the places will be offered by lottery to members of CMG Freelance, and as a bonus perk to any new members signing on before the webinar on March 26th.
For more information about this offer please email Don Genova at freelance@cmg.ca.
PWAC panel advises freelancers to ask for raises
by Meagan Gillmore
Photo courtesy of PWAC Toronto Chapter
Stagnant or low rates should motivate freelancers, not make them timid. That’s according to a panel of experienced freelancers who spoke recently at an event in Toronto called “Let’s Talk Rates: How to Ask for What You’re Worth and Get Paid On Time.”
The event was hosted by the Toronto chapter of the Professional Writers Association of Canada (PWAC) on February 25 and featured writers and editors Diane Peters, Allan Britnell and Carol J. Anderson.
Peters said she disapproves of the mindset that sees cutting back on personal expenses as the best response to low rates. Instead, she said, freelancers should “push themselves” to earn more.
“Money is one of those things that motivates you as a freelancer” said Peters who, in addition to writing, teaches at Ryerson University. “You always have to hustle to get the work that you love and to make more money.”
All of the panelists said their careers have mainly been freelance, and they’ve all managed to earn comfortable incomes. It’s possible for freelancers to make between $75,000 and $95,000 a year, they said.
Anderson, who mainly works as an editor, said that, in her view, rates are always open to negotiation. “I think we’re often afraid to ask for more, and we shouldn’t be,” she said.
Read the rest of this post »
Off the Wire: News for the Canadian media freelancer Feb 26-Mar 4
Once a week, we gather stories about the media business, journalism, writing, communications, and freelancing—with a Canadian focus—and share them in Off the Wire. Who needs a water cooler?
From Canada:
- CBC Tentative Agreement – Information Package [CMG]
- Torstar reported $3.1-million Q4 loss, revenue down from year ago [J-Source]
- Remaining staff struggle to cope after layoffs at Ottawa Citizen, Canadian Press [CWA Canada]
From The U.S. and beyond:
- Tip: Develop new interview techniques [Journalism.co.uk]
- Daily habits of productive freelancers [Freelancers Union]
- Contently’s New Service Fee Draws a Backlash [Managing Editor]
- LinkedIn: here is what journalism students need to know [Journalism.co.uk]
- Contently Shoots Itself in the Foot with a Charge for Freelancers to Get Paid [Inc.]
- How Freelance Labor Became the Unsung Casualty of Media Layoffs [Observer]
- Freelancers claim they haven’t been paid for contributions to Out magazine [NY Daily News]
- How to live your most productive freelance life [Journo Resources]
- Out Magazine: Pay the Freelancers! [National Writers Union]
- Out Magazine’s Fresh Start Overpowered by Bitter Money Dispute [New York Times]
Recently on Story Board:
- The 5-Minute Freelancer Q&A #40 — Kalli Anderson: Award-winning freelance audio producer, filmmaker and journalist Kalli Anderson spoke with Story Board recently about the value of working in a variety of media, the ways in which teaching complements her journalism, and the importance of sharing information among freelancers…
Spot a story you think we should include in next week’s Off the Wire? Email the link to editor@thestoryboard.ca or tweet us at @storyboard_ca.
