Watch the Writers’ Rights discussion in Toronto on Facebook live
If you’re in Toronto, there’s still time to register for tomorrow’s event, Writers’ Rights: Freelance Journalism in a Digital Age. Check out this Eventbrite page to reserve your free ticket.
But if you’re elsewhere in the country, you’ll be able to tune in on Facebook to watch part of the event.
University of Toronto professor Nicole Cohen will be talking about about her new book on freelancers’ rights and the talk will be live streamed from Toronto’s Metro Hall. Check out the CMG Freelance Facebook page to watch live at 1 pm Eastern Time, or you can watch the recorded event later.
CMG Freelance mourns Keith Maskell, long-time CMG staff member
The Canadian Media Guild is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of our brother, friend and colleague Keith Maskell.
As a union, we are dedicated to the proposition that work has value and workers are vital. Our mission is rooted in a recognition of the humanness and humanity of workers.
We likewise celebrate and cherish Canadian Media Guild staff members. Our union has a small paid staff that is tasked with supporting and guiding members and elected member-representatives across the country.
Keith was an exemplar of dedication to fellow CMG members during his many years as a CMG workplace-based activist and later during 16 years at our union office as a CMG Staff Representative.
On behalf of our union, I have offered our deepest condolences to Keith’s family.
Keith’s niece, Nicole Riva, has asked that I share the following: “We’ve been overwhelmed by all the messages and memories that have been shared with us in the last week, many of which have been from CMG members. We are comforted to know how much his work was appreciated.”
Details for a memorial will come at a later date. We will share this information when it becomes available.
Please see words of tribute and respect, below, from some of those who worked with Keith at CMG and knew him best.
With warm regards, and in solidarity,
Kamala Rao
National President, Canadian Media Guild
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SABEW Canada Best in Business awards application deadline February 16
If you’re a freelance business writer, it’s time to get your application ready for the 2017 SABEW Canada Best in Business awards competition.
There are 11 different award categories, including commentary, feature and investigative. Applications are open to SABEW Canada members in good standing. Freelancers even get a break on the entry fee, paying $30 USD instead of the regular $45 USD.
The entry deadline is midnight on February 16.
For detailed guidelines or to enter your work for an award, check out the SABEW Canada website.
Greg Clark Award open for applications
The Canadian Journalism Foundation’s award for early-career journalists is now open for applications.
Freelancers who have been working on the news and editorial side of newspapers, TV and radio news, and online publications for between one and five years are eligible to apply for the Greg Clark Award.
The award offers the successful applicant the opportunity to spend up to a week observing the inner workings of an organization that is key to their beat. The winner will also receive a stipend of $5000 to be partially put towards travel and accommodation expenses.
The application deadline is February 24.
For more information and the application form, see the Greg Clark Award page on the CJF website.
Newsroom staff and freelancers mark one-year anniversary of the start of the Chronicle Herald strike
Today marks the one-year anniversary of the beginning of the strike at Halifax’s Chronicle Herald newspaper. The 55 members of the Halifax Typographical Union have been on strike since January 23rd, 2016 over the company’s plan to cut wages and newsroom positions and increase working hours.
Shortly after the strike began, the striking journalists launched an online news site called Local Xpress. In May, they turned the site into a full service local news site.
But it’s not only the striking newsroom employees who have been writing for Local Xpress. CMG Freelance, which shares the same parent union as the Halifax Typographical Union, has been paying freelancers to write for the news site, as well.
CMG Freelance president Don Genova said last week that he’s pleased the union has been able to support the striking workers by partially funding freelance contributions to the strike publication.
“It shows how freelancers, by being part of CMG Freelance, can have a voice in a labour dispute, even when they’re not covered by the collective agreement at the newspaper,” he said.
Yarmouth-based freelance journalist Sandra Phinney has been writing travel and lifestyle stories for Local Xpress since shortly after it launched. She’s currently writing a monthly travel column called “Mindful Travel” for the site.
In an email to Story Board last week, Phinney said she’s happy to be writing for Local Xpress.
“I’m paid promptly, and I have an editor I respect and with whom I have a great working relationship. A freelance writer’s dream,” she said.
Readership for the site has climbed, she said, with her last two columns receiving a high number of shares and comments. Switching from the Chronicle Herald to Local Xpress meant a pay cut and less frequent assignments, but Phinney said her decision to make the switch had nothing to do with money.
“It’s about supporting the workers who have been treated so badly; it’s about standing together; it’s about values and principles and respecting each other,”she said. “At the risk of sounding maudlin, just colour me grateful.”
The vice-president of the Halifax Typographical Union told CBC last week that negotiations with the company may resume soon.
Off The Wire: News for the Canadian media freelancer Jan 17-23
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:
- A field guide to Canada’s media consultations [J-Source]
- Torstar at a crossroads [Globe and Mail]
- A Year On Strike At The Chronicle Herald [Canadaland]
- Ezra Levant trolled me for taking my seven-year-old son to see Justin Trudeau [J-Source]
- The business of collaboration [J-Source]
- 2017 Alberta Magazines Conference sneak peek [AMPA]
From The U.S. and beyond:
- 5 Lessons I Learned Tracking My Pitches for a Year [The Freelancer]
- Do unions need to evolve to survive the next four years? [Freelancers Union]
- How to make your big ideas happen [Freelancers Union]
- With the 2020 report, The New York Times charts a course for its future [Poynter]
- The Best Invoicing Systems for Freelancers: A Writer Tries 10 Popular Options [The Write Life]
- Facebook Is Expanding Its Program To Fight Fake News Into Germany [BuzzFeed]
- Vice announces launch of documentary film division [Indie Wire]
Recently on Story Board:
- Is there a link between running and writing? Some experts think so: About two weeks ago, I sat in front of my computer screen, feeling frazzled, my heart pounding. I was stressed – trying to meet a tight deadline for a fitness piece due that day. There was no time to waste, not even to make a cup of coffee. But I just couldn’t focus. I had to do something: RUN…
- Upcoming Doc Project mentorship deadline February 1: In the past two years over 60 of your CMG colleagues gone through this unique professional development program, working intensively with veteran CBC producers/mentors to produce unique, innovative radio documentaries…
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.
Is there a link between running and writing? Some experts think so
by Christine Blanchette
About two weeks ago, I sat in front of my computer screen, feeling frazzled, my heart pounding. I was stressed – trying to meet a tight deadline for a fitness piece due that day. There was no time to waste, not even to make a cup of coffee. But I just couldn’t focus. I had to do something: RUN.
I didn’t have the time but I had to make some. I laced up my shoes and did a short run. With each stride I took, I started to relax and breathe more easily. After my workout, my heart was no longer pounding. I could finally focus on my writing.
From my experience as both a fitness writer and veteran runner, these two activities have a lot in common. Both runners and writers are striving to reach a goal. Both are results-driven.
For instance, a runner will train to race or participate in an event. A writer, on the other hand, will take on an assignment, gather information through research, and combine it with their creative skills in order to meet a deadline and see their work published. Both activities require discipline. And both need excellent time management skills.
If you have passion for both, these two activities go well together. And if you’ve never tried running, I believe it can help you become a better writer. And I’m not the only one who thinks so. There is no scientific evidence to prove that there’s a link between running and writing. But a lot of writers think there is one.
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Upcoming Doc Project Mentorship deadline February 1
A message from CBC Radio’s mentorship program The Doc Project:
It’s that time again! CBC Radio’s Mentorship applications deadline is Wednesday, February 1
In the past two years over 60 of your CMG colleagues gone through this unique professional development program, working intensively with veteran CBC producers/mentors to produce unique, innovative radio documentaries.
Their work has aired on 10 different CBC Radio One programs and a number of local shows across the country and have been recognized by The New York Festivals, Third Coast, The imagineNative Festival and The Gabriel Awards.
As a CMG freelancer all that stands between you and the chance to work on a long-form passion project is a two page application … and a really good idea.
If this is the first time you’re hearing about The Doc Project or the Mentorship Program, acquaint yourself with some basic FAQs.
If you’re familiar with the premise, here is a little pre-application checklist:
• Ask yourself: do I qualify? The Mentorship Program is open to CBC employees and Canadian freelance audio producers who have demonstrated experience in audio production, and are looking to develop a pre-existing skill-set. This is not an opportunity for folks to make their first audio doc or learn the basics of audio storytelling.
Off The Wire: News for the Canadian media freelancer Jan 10-16
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:
- How Exclaim! became the last Canadian music magazine still standing [National Post]
- Postmedia posts Q1 profit on debt deal [J-Source]
- Off the Page, with Adrian Forrow [Magazine Awards]
- Why freedom of the press should apply in Indigenous communities [J-Source]
- The 2017 National Magazine Awards Jury [Magazine Awards]
- Squeeze cash from Facebook, Google, say Canadian news media leaders [CBC]
From The U.S. and beyond:
- The magazine market isn’t dead, it’s different [Journalism.co.uk]
- How to Survive Working from Home [Freelance Writing Gigs]
- 24 International Writing Conferences to Attend in 2017 [The Write Life]
- Seeking to deepen ties with publishers, Facebook rolls out journalism program [Poynter]
- 10 Awesome Resources to Help Launch Your Freelance Business for Less [Freelance Writing Gigs]
- The Writer’s Guide to Avoiding Distractions [Mediabistro]
- Martin Shkreli suspended from Twitter for harassing freelance journalist Lauren Duca [Business Insider]
Recently on Story Board:
- Pain and possibilities abound for journalists in the digital age: As the print-heavy side of newspaper industry continues to shed jobs and shut down newsrooms, conversations about how journalism will look and survive in an increasingly digital age are thriving…
- Member survey: What social media training do you need?: CMG Freelance is planning a day-long social media workshop in Vancouver with Katt Stearns, recipient of the 2015 Canadian Digital Marketer of the Year Award. Katt can help you focus your social media energies in the most efficient way possible…
- Off the Page, with Marta Iwanek: Off the Page is a regular interview series featuring National Magazine Award winners. Recently we caught up with photojournalist Marta Iwanek, who in 2016 was named Canada’s Best New Magazine Photographer from the National Magazine Awards Foundation…
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.
Pain and possibilities abound for journalists in the digital age
NASH 79 features several female journalists sharing stories of abuse on social media
By Steve Cornwell
Tim Currie, director of the School of Journalism at the University of King’s College
As the print-heavy side of newspaper industry continues to shed jobs and shut down newsrooms, conversations about how journalism will look and survive in an increasingly digital age are thriving. At the Canadian University Press’s national student journalism conference (NASH 79) in Fredericton, New Brunswick last week, the conversation covered both the hopeful possibilities and the fresh challenges of journalism today.
Many journalists are searching for more opportunities to meaningfully impact their communities. In an interview at NASH, journalism professor Tim Currie said he believes that this focus will help journalists find their way forward.
“I think that journalists need to mean more to their communities,” said Currie, director of the School of Journalism at the University of King’s College. “If there is an opportunity in the digital age, it’s cliché to say, but it’s engagement, it’s community,”
As tools like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and email allow for quicker and more immediate connections with readers than before, Currie said that journalists are well-positioned to make positive contributions to their communities.
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