All media work has value: Notes from the Media Workers Forum
by Lisa Ferguson

A panel discussion with CWA Canada President Martin O’Hanlon at the Media Workers Forum on November 14. Photo by Aloke Anand
At a time when unpaid internships prevail and precarious employment seems the norm, how should institutions better protect interns, and what can we media workers do to protect ourselves? These questions were the focus of the Media Workers Forum, an event for CWA Canada Associate members — student, aspiring and precarious (intern, temporary, part-time) media workers — in Toronto on November 14.
The consensus was that despite having different goals, unions, journalism schools, and employers should all work to create quality internships in the media.
- CWA Canada President Martin O’Hanlon said the union’s goal is to protect interns, and it has taken a position against unpaid internships “because we believe young people and journalists should be paid for their work.” But J-schools and media also have a responsibility to expose injustice, he said, and J-schools should take the stance of being against unpaid internships. CWA Canada’s paid internship agreement with The Canadian Press is an example of how an employer and a union can collaborate to create better student opportunities.
- Joan Antonio, Program Manager for the M-School magazine internship program at Rogers Media (launched in May 2013), said that because they want to produce quality content and tap into young talent, Rogers needed to do better than unpaid internships. “While experience alone is valuable, the pay [offered by M-School] is an incentive,” Antonio said.
- Ann Rauhala, an Associate Professor of Journalism at Ryerson University, said the J-school’s goals are to ensure employers send its sought-after, final-year students — who know how to research, write, and shoot — out reporting every day, just as a junior reporter would be. Otherwise, “they don’t get our students again,” she said. While Rauhala said that some of the most useful internships are unpaid, the school has been uncomfortable for years with the “inherent unfairness” of unpaid internships. “At minimum,” she said, “we have to establish some kind of bursary program for students who don’t come from prosperous families.”
If unpaid internships unfairly benefit the privileged, and media organizations use unpaid interns (not to mention user-generated content) to “squeeze every penny out,” how can we ensure that media includes the diverse voices and quality, accurate information that are critical to democratic society?
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The Born Freelancer on the Merits of Routine
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? Your input is welcome in the comments.
I’ve been told so many times that I must have such great self-discipline (as a freelancer) that I’m beginning to believe it myself.
And I guess, to some degree, it’s true.
But honestly, that self-discipline ebbs and flows with my energies and emotional well-being.
So, not being able to rely on it 24/7, I find myself relying much more on a concept that seems contrary to the very essence of freelancing.
I refer to “routine”.
Opposites attract?
Freelancing seems to be, in many ways, the exact antithesis of “routine”.
It is never dull, rarely exactly the same twice and often involves unexpected twists and turns.
The word “routine,” on the other hand, seems to belie all of that. Routine sounds so… routine. So banal.
Freelancer meet-up in Victoria Tuesday Nov. 24
If you’re a freelancer in the Victoria, BC area, you’re invited to come out to Moxie’s (1010 Yates St.) next Tuesday, November 24th at 7:30 p.m. for a casual freelance get-together.
Come out for a drink and some appetizers (courtesy of the Canadian Media Guild Freelance Branch) and meet others who are working freelance in the Victoria area. There’s a private room booked on the second floor for the event.
Freelancing can be isolating… Don’t miss this opportunity for some freelance conversation and camaraderie. Hope you can make it!
Off The Wire: News for the Canadian media freelancer Nov 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:
- Three more times the RCMP have tried to seize reporters’ notes [J-Source]
- Magawards board elects four new members [Canadian Magazines]
- FHRITP: Confront it or keep rolling? [RRJ]
- Layoffs at Bell Media result of CRTC changes, says union rep [J-Source]
From The U.S. and beyond:
- These 3 Companies Want to Get Freelancers Paid—in Very Different Ways [The Freelancer]
- 4 must-dos before the holidays take over [Freelancers Union]
- Can you overcome these 3 paralyzing freelance writing fears? [The Write Life]
- Breaking news best practices: Reaching and interviewing witnesses and victims of trauma [Poynter]
- Idea Sex: How New Yorker Cartoonists Generate 500 Ideas a Week [99U] (via @tanyakyi)
- International community calls for the release of Vice fixer Mohammed Ismael Rasool [IFEX]
- The 9 Editors You’ll Have as a Freelance Writer [The Freelancer]
- Just Because I Freelance Doesn’t Mean I Work for Free [Observer.com]
- WordRates/PitchLab Site Aims to Fix Freelance Writing’s Broken Business Model [The Writer Underground]
Last week on Story Board:
- Visual Journalism Master Class with John Lehmann Nov. 21 in Vancouver: Vancouver-area freelancers, if you’re looking to improve your photography skills check out The Tyee’s upcoming Master Class with Globe and Mail staff photographer John Lehmann…
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.
Livecast panel on internships tomorrow
CWA Canada is planning to livestream a panel discussion on internships that’s happening tomorrow as part of their Media Workers Forum for students, volunteers and precarious media workers. If you’d like to watch that discussion, you can tune in right here starting tomorrow at 11:30 a.m. EST.
And if you’re in Toronto, there’s still time to register to attend this day-long training and networking forum.
The event starts at 11 a.m. in the Sears Atrium, George Vari Engineering and Computing Centre (245 Church St.) and also includes a mentorship workshop and a session on building a sustainable career in media.
If you’re interested in attending, register today on this Eventbrite page. Food and drinks will be provided for all participants throughout the day.
Visual Journalism Master Class with John Lehmann Nov. 21 in Vancouver
Vancouver-area freelancers, if you’re looking to improve your photography skills check out The Tyee’s upcoming Master Class with Globe and Mail staff photographer John Lehmann. Lehmann is one of Canada’s top photojournalists — he was named Canadian photojournalist of the year in 2012, 2013 and 2014.
Lehmann’s Master Class is intended for people who already understand the fundamentals of photography and are interested in expanding their creative skills and developing their own style.
The course is scheduled for Saturday, November 21st from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Lunch, coffee and post-class beer are included in the $200 registration fee. CMG Freelance is sponsoring this course, so the registration fee also includes a year-long membership in the CMG Freelance Branch (which has a value of $150).
If you’re already a member of CMG Freelance, you qualify for a $50 discount on the course. If you are a member and you’re interested in signing up for this course, please email freelance@cmg.ca for a discount code before you register.
You can find out more details and register for this class on The Tyee’s website.
Off The Wire: News for the Canadian media freelancer Nov 3-9
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:
- Magazine funding in a decimated state [J-Source]
- Bell Media to cut 270 jobs in Toronto, 110 in Montreal [Globe and Mail]
- Why anxiety makes journalists miss deadlines [J-Source]
- What happens next after job loss in journalism? [J-Source]
- We need to talk about female journalists of colour [Ryerson Review]
- Media Worker Forum [J-Source]
- Women in Canadian newsrooms remain ‘Outsiders Still’ [J-Source]
From The U.S. and beyond:
- Wil Wheaton is right: Stop expecting artists to work for free — or worse, for “exposure” [Salon]
- Journalism behind bars: Vice and Al Jazeera advocating for freedom of the press [Journalism.co.uk]
- Upworthy’s November call for pitches [Freelance Cafe]
- How Contently’s Content Marketing Funds Investigative Journalism [Mediashift]
- The simple secret to being an unstoppable freelancer [Freelancers Union]
- Why Freelance Journalists are Shifting Their Careers to Content Marketing [Mediashift]
- 3 Ways You’re Probably Sabotaging Your Freelance Writing Business [The Write Life]
Last week on Story Board:
- Freelancing 101 Webinar for CMG Freelance and CWA Associate Members: If you’re just starting out as a freelancer, you’ll want to sign up for Freelancing 101, a webinar for CMG Freelance and CWA Associate Members with Toronto editor and writer Kelli Korducki…
- Media Worker Forum in Toronto on November 14: CWA Canada is holding a free day of training and networking for students, volunteers and precarious media workers on Saturday, November 14th…
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.
Freelancing 101 webinar for members
If you’re just starting out as a freelancer, you’ll want to sign up for Freelancing 101, a webinar for CMG Freelance and CWA Associate Members with Toronto editor and writer Kelli Korducki.
The webinar is scheduled for Wednesday, November 18th from 4:30 to 5:30 EST and will cover the ins and outs of building a career as a media freelancer. Topics will include social media, making contacts in the industry, getting paid on time and negotiating contracts.
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 Eventbrite page.
If you’re interested in the webinar but can’t participate live, be sure to register anyway — the webinar will be recorded and made available for playback for members.
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.
Media Worker Forum in Toronto on November 14
CWA Canada is holding a free day of training and networking for students, volunteers and precarious media workers on Saturday, November 14th from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the Sears Atrium, George Vari Engineering and Computing Centre (245 Church St.) in Toronto.
The day’s schedule includes mentorship sessions, a panel discussion on internships, and workshops on building a career in media.
The event is free to attend and food and drink will be provided throughout the day.
For the full schedule and to register, check out the Media Worker Forum Eventbrite page.
Off The Wire: News for the Canadian media freelancer Oct 27-Nov 2
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:
- Rogers pulling Flare magazine from newsstands next year [Globe and Mail]
- Online journal offers perspective on intern debate [J-Source]
- Meltdown at The Walrus [Canadaland]
- Two CBC unions call on network president and board to resign [J-Source]
- Why 3 Canadian newspapers gave up on the tablet edition [Poynter]
- Carve out your writing niche and then own it! [PWAC Toronto]
From The U.S. and beyond:
- So you want to be a freelancer… [CNBC]
- Help! For Writers: 10 things to do when you can’t think of anything to write [Poynter]
- How one freelancer relentlessly pursued a deadbeat client – and won [Freelancers Union]
- Making This Common Query Letter Mistake? Here’s Your Pitch Fix [The Write Life]
- You can’t pay your rent with ‘the unique platform and reach our site provides’ [Wil Wheaton]
- Will the Real Yelp for Journalists Please Stand Up? [Observer Innovation] (via @Romenesko)
- Being a generalist will not get you as far as having a niche: A Q&A with Susan Grossman [Journalism.co.uk]
Last week on Story Board:
- Allie Wilkinson — a ‘how did you do it?’ profile: Allie Wilkinson is a Washington DC based freelance science journalist. I met her at a freelancer workshop called Courage Camp in Colorado in August 2014, and since that time, I’ve followed her online and seen her career flourish.
- A discussion about kill fees at The Walrus — Storified: There was an interesting discussion on the Toronto Freelance Writers and Editors email listserv earlier this week. The discussion was started by a writer who had been commissioned by The Walrus to write a feature story…
- Forum on Unpaid Internships in Vancouver on November 4: Unpaid work has become increasingly normalized over the past few years. Internships are seen as valuable opportunities that offer a way for workers — especially younger ones — to break into many different industries…
- Follow the Money — How to Find Clients & Structure Deals for Freelance Success: The vast majority of people who have left the 9-5 grind in search of this idyllic freelance life have quickly learned that it’s not all sunshine and lollipops…
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.