Copyright, libel and kill fees: Negotiating a freelancer-friendly contract
by Rachel Sanders The hottest topic of conversation for freelancers is definitely money. But freelance contracts come in a close second. That’s why we like to offer a regular refresher on the subject here on Story Board. Publishers have been adding some distinctly freelancer-unfriendly clauses to their contracts over the past few years. And with well-paid freelance writing […]
Newspapers reject overreaching freelance photography contracts
by Rachel Sanders Freelance photographers have something to celebrate this week: a little pushback from newspapers against overreaching contracts for concert photography. The Montreal Gazette, La Presse, Le Journal de Montréal, Le Devoir and Métro refused to send photographers to the Taylor Swift show at the Bell Centre in Montreal last Tuesday because of a […]
Writer Scott Carney launches WordRates & PitchLab Kickstarter
by Rachel Sanders Scott Carney figures he’s beaten the odds and come out the other side: he’s become a successful freelance writer. What was his first clue? Everyone kept asking for his advice. “I get emails and phone calls and letters from writers around the country all the time asking for advice on how to negotiate contracts or how […]
Why does a freelancer’s copyright matter?
by Rachel Sanders In the wake of our recent post about a contract dispute between a group of freelancers and the non-profit broadcaster Accessible Media Inc., it seems like a good time for a refresher on the topic of copyright and moral rights. As a freelancer, why should you protect your copyright? What are moral rights, […]
Toronto freelancer goes the distance to pursue non-paying client
Most freelancers have had to deal with it at some point in their careers – a client who is slow to process invoices, or, worse, one that’s deliberately avoiding paying their contractors. Chasing down a paycheque can be frustrating, humiliating and damaging to your productivity. Sometimes it seems easier to just give up on that […]
Radio freelancers battle for copyright
by Rachel Sanders In the two and a half years since I’ve been the editor of Story Board, I’ve posted all kinds of news and opinion pieces about negotiations and disputes over freelance contracts. The contracts in question have come from a wide variety of media outlets — ranging from Canada Wide Media, to the Toronto Star, […]
Freelance Friday #2, Storified
[View the story “Value Your Work, Get It In Writing, and Get Paid” on Storify]
Freelance Friday #2: How to value your work
The second in the Canadian Media Guild’s Freelance Friday workshop series is coming up next week in Toronto. This time, the topic is Freelance Contracts: How to value your work, get it in writing and get paid. CMG staff rep Keith Maskell will explore the nuts and bolts of freelance contracts and will give participants the tools they […]
Warning to freelancers: The Revelation Magazine
Freelance writers, photographers and web developers are advised that a Toronto-based startup magazine is behind on payments to its contributors. The Revelation Magazine, an online publication that bills itself as a “non-denomination Christian lifestyle magazine,” published one issue in December before suspending publication in mid-January. More than two dozen freelancers — writers, photographers and graphic […]
Improved CBC freelance contract coming soon
The CMG has negotiated a new collective agreement that will see improved working conditions for CBC freelance contributors. The pending freelancer issues that we reported on late last year were resolved at a negotiating session in mid-December. The new agreement will see base rates for freelancers increase at the same rate as salaries will increase for employees […]
