Freelancers’ social night in Vancouver June 19
Vancouver-area freelancers, come out for a social evening with peers and colleagues on Monday, June 19 at 6 p.m. at Central City Brewing (871 Beatty St).
CMG Freelance members and non-members are all welcome. Take a break from work to come and catch up with your freelance friends or meet some new ones. You never know what new inspiration or collaboration might arise out of an evening of conversation with other freelancers.
Please RSVP this week to freelance@cmg.ca to let us know if you can make it. Hope to see you there!
Toronto workshop: Privacy and digital security at the border
Toronto-area freelancers are invited to a free, hands-on workshop about digital security and privacy for journalists when crossing borders. It’s scheduled for June 12th from 6:15-9:30 pm at the Transmedia Zone (Ryerson University).
The workshop will be led by Harlo Holmes, the director of newsroom digital security at Freedom of the Press Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to supporting and advocating on behalf of public-interest journalism. Harlo will cover common scenarios that journalists might face when crossing borders. She’ll teach participants how to work more securely, protect their data, and keep sources, colleagues, and communities safer.
The workshop is being run by #OffAssignment Toronto, a community-based organization that hosts events for freelance journalists and independent media-makers in Toronto. It is sponsored in part by CMG Freelance.
Space is limited, and you can reserve your free ticket to this event on this Eventbrite page.
Off The Wire: News for the Canadian media freelancer May 30-June 5
Once a week, we gather stories about the media business, journalism, writing, publishing, and freelancing—with a Canadian focus—and share them in Off the Wire. Who needs a water cooler?
From Canada:
-
Globe and Mail leads in Digital Publishing Awards [Canadian Magazines[
- Alicia Elliott’s speech at the 40th anniversary National Magazine Awards [Magazine Awards]
- ‘Foreign’ reporting is so last century, let’s remake it [J-Source]
- Travel Journalism’s Dirty Little Secret [Canadaland]
From The U.S. and beyond:
- Why mentorship matters [Freelancers Union]
- 4 Ways to Cope When Your Freelance-Writing Pitch Goes Unanswered [The Write Life]
- New York Times publisher explains why he decided to kill the public editor job [Poynter]
- #EbonyOwes: Ebony Magazine Is Blocking Writers It Still Hasn’t Paid [The Grapevine]
- 9 ways to end your stories [Poynter]
- 7 tips for getting started as a freelance journalist [Journalism.co.uk]
- 3 Ways to Deal When a Freelance-Writing Client Balks at Your Rate [The Write Life]
- A labor lawyer predicts how the Freelance Isn’t Free Act will play out in court [Freelancers Union]
- Quick Guide to Marketing for Freelance Writers [Freelance Writing Gigs]
Recently on Story Board:
- Interview tips from investigative journalism pros: On May 20 and 21, 2017, I attended the IRE Cross-border reporting workshop held at the University of British Columbia’s Liu Centre for Global Studies. I gleaned helpful tips from many of the sessions, but this interviewing workshop prepared by Kathryn Gretsinger and Harvey Cashore was particularly valuable…
- Freelancers, contract workers, and the Changing Workplaces Review: The world of work has changed dramatically over the past few decades. More people are working part time. More people are self-employed and more people in different fields are considered “freelancers” than ever before. Government policy has been slow to catch up with these changes…
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.
Interview tips from investigative journalism pros
Freelancers, contract workers, and the Changing Workplaces Review
The world of work has changed dramatically over the past few decades. More people are working part time. More people are self-employed and more people in different fields are considered “freelancers” than ever before. Government policy has been slow to catch up with these changes.
The government of Ontario made progress this month in adjusting its employment laws to better protect workers. The government released their long-awaited Changing Workplaces Review last week. It’s a comprehensive report on employment and labour laws that makes 173 recommendations for updates to workers’ rights.
This week, the Ontario government announced proposed legislation based on the recommendations. If passed, the Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act would, among other things:
• Raise the minimum wage to $15 by 2019
• Improve rules around shift scheduling
• Ensure that casual, part-time, temporary and seasonal employees are paid the same as full-time employees doing the same job for the same employer
• Prohibit employers from misclassifying employees as “independent contractors” in order to skirt employment laws.
The new rules around misclassification may bring about positive changes for some precariously employed people in Ontario. One group that’s affected by misclassification is factual television workers — a group that the Canadian Media Guild has been working to organize for the past four years.
But even though Ontario is taking important steps, the proposed legislation falls short of offering much protection for freelancers and the self-employed. One of the recommendations in the Changing Workplaces Review urges the government look for ways to provide basic health benefits to all workers, including self-employed people. The Ontario government has not yet announced plans to address that recommendation.
There’s still much that can be done to improve working conditions for precariously employed workers in Ontario and beyond. But there are hopeful signs that change is in the air.
The Urban Worker Project has created a petition to urge the government to expand employment standards legislation to cover self-employed, freelance and contract workers so that they “can access better pay, benefits and protections.”
You can sign that petition right here.
Off The Wire: News for the Canadian media freelancer May 24-29
Once a week, we gather stories about the media business, journalism, writing, publishing, and freelancing—with a Canadian focus—and share them in Off the Wire. Who needs a water cooler?
From Canada:
- Announcing the Winners of the 40th Anniversary National Magazine Awards [Magazine Awards]
- The Changing Workplace Review calls for protection for urban workers [Urban Worker Project]
- Omar Mouallem on the art of reflection [J-Source]
- Four more freelancers in danger zones win hostile environment training bursaries [Canadian Journalism Forum on Violence and Trauma]
From The U.S. and beyond:
- Conduct a better phone interview: Check out these 3 recording apps [The Write Life]
- 3 automated transcription tools for journalists [Journalism.co.uk]
- Freelancing and the racial divide [Freelancers Union]
- 5 tips for applying to writing fellowships and residencies [The Write Life]
- Applying to get funding for a journalism project? Here are some helpful tips [Journalism.co.uk]
- The unpredictable freelance life: expecting the unexpected [Freelancers Union]
- A new website is calling out companies who fail to pay creatives’ invoices [Fashion Journal]
Recently on Story Board:
- Webinar: Tax Tips and Financial Planning for Freelancers: Join us for a webinar called Tax Tips and Financial Planning for Freelancers on Monday, June 5 at 3:00 p.m. E.T. and start to learn how to run your sole-proprietorship finances…
- New webinar on extended health benefits plan for freelancers: Membership in CMG Freelance gives you access to a non-profit extended health care benefits package. And there’s a new webinar on the CMG Freelance website that explains the costs and benefits of the plan…
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 Tips and Financial Planning for Freelancers
When you work for yourself – like so many of us do these days – your business finances ARE your personal finances, and if you’re not careful, things can get very messy.
Join us for a webinar called Tax Tips and Financial Planning for Freelancers on Monday, June 5 at 3:00 p.m. E.T. and start to learn how to run your sole-proprietorship finances.
It will cover 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 GST or HST – what even is that? Should I be charging it? What about incorporation – should I be doing that? And will I ever get to go on vacation again? Entrepreneurship is the future, but the money stuff can be really confusing and, let’s be honest, really boring. Let us change that and get you organized so that you can work your finances like a boss.
The webinar will be led by Liz Schieck, a certified teacher and financial coach and who is passionate about financial literacy and planning. She loves helping clients wade through all the ugly-pretty financial stuff to make those big goals happen.
Register for the webinar at this link. CMG Freelance and CWA Canada Associate Members can use their membership numbers to register.
For a limited time, CMG Freelance is making live viewing of our webinars available to non-members. If you’d like to watch this one, you can use the special code “Storyboard” in place of a membership number.
Archived webinars are available for viewing by CMG Freelance and CWA Canada Associate Members on this members-only page on the CMG Freelance website. Subjects of previous webinars include contract negotiation, social media and cyber security for freelancers.
Students, volunteers and emerging media workers can sign up for a free CWA Associate Membership right here.
For information about the price and benefits of CMG Freelance membership check out the CMG Freelance website.
New webinar on extended health benefits plan for freelancers
Membership in CMG Freelance gives you access to a non-profit extended health care benefits package. And there’s a new webinar on the CMG Freelance website that explains the costs and benefits of the plan.
The Writers’ Coalition Program is an affordable health insurance program offered by the not-for-profit insurer AFBS. CMG Freelance members are guaranteed acceptance into the program, with no medical questionnaires necessary and no refusals based on pre-existing conditions.
There are two program options: Standard and Comprehensive. Both offer dental, prescription drug, extended health care, and travel emergency medical coverage. Both options also provide life and AD&D insurance and a Member and Family Assistance Program. There’s a monthly payment option available and premiums may be tax deductible.
The Writers’ Coalition’s website will give you a price quote in just two steps and it enables you to enrol in the program and pay online by credit card.
For more information about the plan, you can watch this webinar on the CMG Freelance website. Details about the insurance package are available on this page on the CMG Freelance site and on the Writers’ Coalition Program’s website.
Off The Wire: News for the Canadian media freelancer May 16-23
Once a week, we gather stories about the media business, journalism, writing, publishing, and freelancing—with a Canadian focus—and share them in Off the Wire. Who needs a water cooler?
From Canada:
- Kim Pittaway, Michael de Pencier and D.B. Scott to co-host 40th Anniversary National Magazine Awards [Magazine Awards]
- ‘Emerging Indigenous Voices’ award to counter ‘cultural appropriation’ prize [CBC]
- Freelance photojournalist charged with obstruction at scene of collision in Hamilton [J-Source]
- A Short History of the National Magazine Awards [Magazine Awards]
- Winnipeg Free Press staff agree to potential wage cuts to block job cuts [J-Source]
- Journalists and activism: Desmond Cole and the Star [J-Source]
From The U.S. and beyond:
- What to Do About Freelance Writing When You Update Your Resume [The Write Life]
- As bombs rain, freelancers build their own bunker [CJR]
- 6 Tips for Landing Repeat Writing Assignments [Mediabistro]
- New law protecting freelancers goes into effect in New York City [Crains New York]
- Study: Freelancers say they’re happier since going independent [Freelancers Union]
- Freelancing Just Got A Little Less Horrible [BuzzFeed]
- Forget Your Endless To-Do List: Try Time Blocking Instead [The Write Life]
Recently on Story Board:
- 2017 Portenier Human Rights Bursary competition open for applications: Applications opened this week for the 2017 Portenier Human Rights Bursary competition. The winner of the bursary receives $3000 to attend hostile environment training offered by approved course providers…
- Freelance Isn’t Free Act becomes law in New York City: Yesterday was a historic day for freelancers. The Freelance Isn’t Free Act, which was spearheaded by the Freelancers Union during a year-long campaign last year, became law in New York City…
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.
2017 Portenier Human Rights Bursary competition open for applications
Applications opened this week for the 2017 Portenier Human Rights Bursary competition. The winner of the bursary receives $3000 to attend hostile environment training offered by approved course providers.
The competition is open to freelance journalists and independent documentary filmmakers whose work focuses on human rights abuses. The bursary is offered by the Canadian Journalism Forum on Violence and Trauma, which also offers a number of training bursaries each year through the Forum Freelance Fund.
The application deadline is June 15th. Winners will be notified by July 31st. For more information on how to apply, see the Canadian Journalism Forum on Violence and Trauma website.
