Off The Wire: News for the Canadian media freelancer Oct 18-24
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 a new B.C. media fund will encourage storytelling innovation [J-Source]
- Indigenous magazine Red Rising expands into Vancouver [Canadian Magazines]
- Algonquin students offered opportunities but no pay [J-Source]
- Postmedia to cut more jobs as net losses spike [Globe and Mail]
- Patti Sonntag spearheads Canadian collaborative investigative journalism project [J-Source]
From The U.S. and beyond:
- How Do Editors Really Feel About Follow-Ups? [The Freelancer]
- Socialist magazine Jacobin’s staffers unionize [The Guardian]
- 6 networking tips for the new and nervous [Freelancers Union]
- 5 Ways to be a Productive Writer in a World of Distraction [Write To Done]
- What if the newspaper industry made a colossal mistake? [Politico]
- 4 Essential Steps to Fixing Your Online Reputation [Mediabistro]
- Tip: Get into the habit of archiving your work [Journalism.co.uk]
- How the Gig Economy Profits off Desperation [The Bold Italic]
Recently on Story Board:
- Access Copyright & Access Copyright Foundation — What can they do for you?: Are you registered with Access Copyright (AC) as one of over 11,000 Canadian writers, visual artists or publishers who receive an annual payment? Or have you ever applied for a Professional Development, Research or Events grant from Access Copyright Foundation?…
- Social media webinar for members October 27: Need to improve your social media skills? CMG Freelance and CWA Canada Associate Members are invited to a free webinar led by Elamin Abdelmahmoud, the social media editor at Buzzfeed Canada…
- Journalism internships should be paid fairly and offer personal mentoring: Entry-level media workers can confirm that some journalism internships aren’t as glamorous as they may seem because they’re neither paid fairly nor do they provide one-on-one mentoring…
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.
Access Copyright & Access Copyright Foundation: What Can They Do for You?
by Elle Andra-Warner
Are you registered with Access Copyright (AC) as one of over 11,000 Canadian writers, visual artists or publishers who receive an annual payment? Or have you ever applied for a Professional Development, Research or Events grant from Access Copyright Foundation?
If not, here’s some information that could add to your stream of income.
Access Copyright, a non-profit national organization, was founded in 1988 by Canadian creators and publishers and today represents over 11,000 Canadians and their works. AC provides a variety of services in relation to the use of works in educational institutions, businesses, government and others, including licensing, permissions, and payments. And registering with AC is free.
I’ve been a published journalist, photographer and author since 1992 but didn’t learn about Access Copyright (AC) until about five years later when I became a member of the Professional Writers’ Association of Canada (PWAC) and learned about AC from their e-list.
I registered as a creator affiliate and have been receiving an annual payment since then. In 2007, when I started a small publishing company to produce regional books about Northwestern Ontario by other authors, I signed with AC to also become a publisher affiliate with AC, and dependent on sales, that has provided another annual payment.
So, who can sign on to be a creator affiliate with AC? If you are a writer, editor, translator or visual artist (e.g. photographer, graphic artist, etc.) published in print format – such as in a book, magazine, newspaper or scholarly journal — for which you retain reproduction rights; a Canadian citizen or permanent resident and don’t reside in Quebec; at least 18 years of age; and, not already affiliated with any other reproduction rights agency (such as COPIBEC in Quebec), you can become part of AC.
Read the rest of this post »
Social media webinar for members October 27th
Buzzfeed Canada social media editor Elamin Abdelmahmoud
Need to improve your social media skills?
CMG Freelance and CWA Canada Associate Members are invited to a free webinar led by Elamin Abdelmahmoud, the social media editor at Buzzfeed Canada.
Register here for the workshop, which is scheduled for Thursday, October 27th from 6 to 7 p.m. ET. After you register, you’ll be sent a link where you can sign in to watch and participate.
If you’re interested in the webinar but can’t participate live, be sure to register anyway — the webinar will be recorded and you’ll be sent a link to play it back later.
Abdelmahmoud will talk about new strategies for digital storytelling and the latest thinking on the direction in which social media is headed.
Before becoming BuzzFeed Canada’s social media editor, Abdelmahmoud handled social media for TVO’s Current Affairs and Documentaries. He also worked on The Agenda with Steve Paikin and CBC’s The National.
This webinar is free for both CWA Associate Members and members of CMG Freelance. If you’re already a member, you can register for the event on this page on our website. You’ll need your membership number to register. If you’re a new CMG Freelance member and haven’t yet received your membership card, you can contact freelance@cmg.ca to get your number.
CWA Associate Membership is free for students, volunteers and emerging media workers. You can sign up for membership right here.
For information about the price and benefits of CMG Freelance membership check out the CMG Freelance website.
Journalism internships should be paid fairly and offer personal mentoring
This post is the eighth in a series called “E-Lancer Writes,” exploring the working conditions, rights, and collective organizing strategies of freelance journalists, interns, and other low-wage or temporary digital media workers.
By Errol Salamon
Entry-level media workers can confirm that some journalism internships aren’t as glamorous as they may seem because they’re neither paid fairly nor do they provide one-on-one mentoring.
We gathered the stories of four journalism interns to better understand the experiences of emerging media workers in today’s media landscape. Here’s what they had to say.
Pay your interns fairly
Pay rates vary across journalism internships. Vanessa interned full time at Canadian Geographic in Ottawa for 12 weeks. She wasn’t paid.
“To not get paid when you’re working full-time hours can be a little bit discouraging and it’s also tough being a student because you can’t work another job,” she said.
“So I essentially lost out on an entire summer’s pay that could’ve gone towards my schooling.”
According to the Canadian Geographic website, “Unfortunately, our internships are unpaid, but they will give you meaningful, fulfilling work experience, insight into the inner workings of an internationally-acclaimed 80-year-old magazine published by a not-for-profit society, and a head start on your career in the magazine industry.”
Read the rest of this post »
Off The Wire: News for the Canadian media freelancer Oct 12-17
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:
- CBC’s senior reporters and anchors reflect on a changing media landscape [J-Source]
- Applications open for the 2016 R. James Travers Foreign Corresponding Fellowship [J-Source]
- Four new indy magazine members welcomed by Magazines Canada [Canadian Magazines]
- Radio-Canada fights RCMP attempt to obtain interview materials [J-Source]
From The U.S. and beyond:
- What Stops Workers From Going Freelance [Fast Company]
- Can AI Really Help Freelancers Write Better Emails? [The Freelancer]
- 7 Ways to Fight Work-Related Depression [Freelancers Union]
- How to Get Your Enthusiasm Back as a Creative Writer [Write To Done]
- U.S. freelancers made an estimated $1 trillion in 2016 [Tech.co]
- 13 Tips and Tricks for Working Remotely and Loving It [Skillcrush]
Recently on Story Board:
- The Born Freelancer on Why Public Libraries Matter: I was visiting my local public library the other day when I realized how much I have come to rely on its resources to facilitate my freelancing lifestyle…
- Applications open for the 2017 Canadian Nieman Fellowship: Applications are now open for the 2017 Martin Wise Goodman Canadian Nieman Fellowship. The deadline for applications is January 6, 2017…
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 on Why Public Libraries Matter
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.
I was visiting my local public library the other day when I realized how much I have come to rely on its resources to facilitate my freelancing lifestyle.
In fact, I would say that the public library system has been a key factor in enabling me to pursue my freelancing career over the years with maximum efficiency and minimal cost.
I recently moved and getting my new local library card was the very first piece of documentation that I sought. Even before my new driver’s license or health card. It was that important to me. Here’s a partial list of reasons why.
It is a place to go
A freelancer is usually stuck at home. Working, or not working, there’s rarely any place to go these days that doesn’t require you to buy something. A library is quite simply the ideal home away from home. In winter it is warm, in summer it is cool. There are people around so you don’t feel isolated but total privacy for you to do your own thing without interference. Everyone has to be somewhere and if I’m not at home, or at the home of friends, the library is next most where I’d like to be.
Applications open for the 2017 Canadian Nieman Fellowship
Applications are now open for the 2017 Martin Wise Goodman Canadian Nieman Fellowship. The deadline for applications is January 6, 2017.
The fellowship offers a one-year sabbatical at Harvard University — including tuition, stipend and medical expenses — to a working Canadian journalist. Freelancers, photojournalists, editorial cartoonists, columnists, filmmakers and broadcasters are all invited to apply.
Applications must include two essays, a professional profile and study plan, work samples, and three letters of recommendation.
More details about the application process can be found on the Canadian Nieman website. You can email canadiannieman@gmail.com with any questions.
Off The Wire: News for the Canadian media freelancer Oct 4-11
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:
- To script or not to script: that is the audio storyteller’s question [The Doc Project]
- Applications open for Martin Wise Goodman Canadian Nieman Fellowship [Canadian Magazines]
- Halifax startup to focus on long-form journalism [Masthead]
From The U.S. and beyond:
- 5 Secrets to Becoming a Six-Figure Freelancer [Mediabistro]
- 12 Awesome Websites to Kick Your Freelancing Into High Gear [Mediabistro]
- How a custom freelance contract can help you save or earn money [Freelancers Union]
- Want to Write for Magazines? Pitch This Section First [The Write Life]
- How journalists can start creating a personal brand online [Journalism.co.uk]
- What 200 Rejections Taught Me About Being a Freelance Writer [The Write Life]
- 10 terms every freelance writer should know [Mediabistro]
- Can Finally Doing Your Chores Help You Write More? [The Write Life]
Recently on Story Board:
- Ali Mustafa Memorial Award for freelance photojournalists application deadline December 15: An award granted to young photojournalists in honour of a Canadian freelance photographer killed in Syria is now accepting applications…
- Expanding your freelance portfolio: Today, most people see me as a magazine writer. But if I were to rely solely on the income I generate from writing magazine articles, the cupboard would be pretty bare. For me, the key is to diversify…
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.
Ali Mustafa Memorial Award for freelance photojournalists application deadline December 15
An award granted to young photojournalists in honour of a Canadian freelance photographer killed in Syria is now accepting applications. The deadline to apply for the Ali Mustafa Memorial Award for People’s Journalism is December 15th, 2016.
The award, established in 2015, is given in honour of Ali Mustafa, a Toronto freelance photojournalist who was killed in Aleppo in March 2014. His work had been featured in The Guardian, Le Nouvel Observateur, Journal du Dimanche, Les Echos, and The Times of London. He was only 29 years old when he was killed.
The award was set up by the Ali Mustafa Memorial Collective as a way to honour his memory and pay tribute to the work of freelance photographers. Applicants are asked to submit a proposal for a project that helps increase awareness of social justice issues.
The winner of the award will receive a maximum of $3,000 to cover costs such as travel expenses, equipment, training, visa, insurance, and living expenses. The winner will also receive a one-year membership in the Canadian Media Guild’s Freelance Branch and a one-year professional membership in the News Photographers Association of Canada.
For more details about the award and how to apply, visit rememberinalimustafa.org. To contact the organizers, you can email AliMustafaAward@gmail.com.
Expanding your freelance portfolio
By Sandra Phinney
I’ll never forget the day I announced to my husband, “Barrie, I’m going to be a freelance writer.” The look on his face was priceless. You see, 19 years earlier I’d said, “Barrie, I’m going to be a farmer.”
That actually happened; I grew 10 acres of organic fruit and vegetables—before the word “organic” meant anything to anyone—and lost money for 16 years. We had to sell the farm and start over. So you can imagine the look on my husband’s face when I made the grand announcement that I intended to be a freelance writer.
To complicate matters, when I told Barrie I intended to be a freelance writer, I was 54, and didn’t posses any writing credentials or track record.
I wasn’t a trained journalist; I wasn’t a household name in the magazine or newspaper world; I didn’t even know what a query or tear sheet was. I knew dilly squat. But there’s something to be said about starting from scratch. Much like jumping in the deep end of a pool when you don’t know how to swim—it’s do or die.
Today, most people see me as a magazine writer. But if I were to rely solely on the income I generate from writing magazine articles, the cupboard would be pretty bare. For me, the key is to diversify. That means I not only diversify the kind of writing I do (travel and lifestyle to business, health, the environment, profiles, book reviews … ad infinitum) but I also entered the realm of corporate writing.
What have I learned?
