2018 Public Lending Right Program registration open February 15 to May 1
Canadian authors, illustrators and photographers with published books should invest some time over the next few weeks to register for the Public Lending Right Program. The program is a Canada Council for the Arts program that distributes payments to Canadian creators in compensation for the lending out of their books through Canadian public libraries.
This year’s registration period runs from February 15 to May 1. In order to register, you’ll need to fill out and mail in a signed registration form along with photocopies of the title page, copyright page and table of contents of the book or books you’ve contributed to. It’s worth taking the time to do the paperwork — the average payment to authors last year was $563.
For details on eligibility criteria or the application process, see the Public Lending Right Program’s website.
Urban Worker Project Skillshare in Vancouver March 1
Vancouver freelancers and independent creative workers, mark your calendars for an Urban Worker Project Skillshare on March 1.
This day-long event will feature workshops and roundtables that will help independent workers develop the skills they need to build successful businesses and thrive in the changing world of work.
The Skillshare is scheduled for Thursday, March 1 from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. in Room 1400 at SFU Harbour Centre (515 W Hastings St.).
Workshops will cover a wide variety of topics of interest to freelancers. Some of the practical sessions include a workshop on financial management for independent workers led by financial planner Liz Shieck from the New School of Finance. And Jessica Somers, an accountant with Cordova Street will also be speaking about tax planning, budgeting and personal finance.
Gilad Babchuk, co-founder of Vancouver’s alternative business school Groundswell Education Society and Humaira Hamid, Business Development Manager with Futurpreneur Canada
will lead a sessions on planning and launching a business.
Don Genova, president of CMG Freelance, will lead a workshop on rate setting, negotiation and contracts. And writer and documentary filmmaker Roberta Staley will talk international reporting, pitching, and multi-media journalism.
The event will also feature Caitlin Pearce, executive director of the Freelancers Union in the United States. Pearce will talk about the Freelance Isn’t Free Act, a bylaw enacted in New York City last year that establishes protections for freelance workers, specifically with regards to contracts and timely payment.
The Skillshare is a Pay-What-You-Can-Afford event. Tickets are by donation, with a suggested amount of $35. If finances are a barrier to attendance, freelancers are welcome to attend for free.
The Urban Worker Project is an initiative that aims to give a stronger voice to the growing numbers of independent workers across the country. CMG Freelance is one of the sponsors of this event, which is part of Simon Fraser University Public Square’s 2018 Community Summit, Brave New Work.
Full descriptions of the morning workshops and afternoon roundtable sessions are available right here.
To register for this event, go to this Eventbrite page.
Off the Wire: News for the Canadian media freelancer Feb 6-12
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:
- Applications open for 2018 Magazines Canada Fellowship Program [Magazines Canada]
- Top Five Ways to Spot Fake News [J-Source]
- Discourse Media is launching a membership platform and local news fellowships [Nieman Lab]
From The U.S. and beyond:
- 5 soft skills that every freelancer should have [Freelancers Union]
- Tip: Bookmark this advice for pitching feature articles [Journalism.co.uk]
- These tools will help you find the right images for your stories [Poynter]
- Amp Up Your Freelance Writing! Resolve to Network in 2018 [The Write Life]
- How to win new clients through cold emailing [Freelancers Union]
- 5 Universal Annoyances That Test Your Patience as a Freelancer [The Freelancer]
Recently on Story Board:
- Story Board joins National NewsMedia Council: The National NewsMedia Council is Canada’s national press council. It was established in 2015 to promote ethical practices within the news media as well as to review and adjudicate complaints from the public…
- National Writers Union settles freelance non-payment grievance: The National Writers Union settled a grievance last week on behalf of twenty freelancers who are owed money by the American science magazine Nautilus…
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.
Story Board joins National NewsMedia Council
Story Board is now a member of the National NewsMedia Council. 
The NNC is Canada’s national press council. It was established in 2015 to promote ethical practices within the news media as well as to review and adjudicate complaints from the public.
Most of the English-language daily and community papers in Canada belong to the NNC, as do a number of Canadian magazines and new media organizations. Papers in Quebec and Alberta are served by separate provincial press councils.
Like the other member publications, Story Board pays a fee to belong to the NNC. All member publications agree to abide by the decisions the Council makes with regards to complaints from the public. The Council considers complaints that concern accuracy, fairness of coverage and attribution, among other areas of concern.
For more on the National NewsMedia Council’s purpose and process, check out their website.
National Writers Union settles freelance non-payment grievance
The National Writers Union settled a grievance last week on behalf of twenty freelancers who are owed money by the American science magazine Nautilus.
The NWU, an American trade union that represents freelance writers, published an open letter to Nautilus in December stating that the magazine was in breach of multiple contracts and owed a collective debt to freelancers that totalled $50,000
Nautilus freelancer Jessica Siegel is quoted on the NWU’s website saying freelancers had been struggling individually for more than a year to collect what they were owed by the magazine. The NWU’s successful settlement, she says, demonstrates the power of freelancers joining together and acting collectively to get results.
This is only one example of the action the NWU has undertaken recently on behalf of freelancers. The union is involved in other freelance non-payment grievances, including a lawsuit against Ebony magazine on behalf of a group of writers who are owed more than $80,000 by the magazine.
Off the Wire: News for the Canadian media freelancer Jan 30-Feb 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:
- Times Colonist cuts four staff just weeks after call for voluntary resignations [J-Source]
- Journalists’ attitudes towards activism are shifting. Are newsroom policies keeping up? [J-Source]
- TWUC Short Prose Competition deadline February 15 [TWUC]
From The U.S. and beyond:
- The importance of solidarity in 2018 – the small steps that we can all take [Freelancers Union]
- A Little Reminder of Why Media Unions Matter [Splinter]
- NWU and Nautilus settle $60,000 non-payment grievance [National Writers Union]
- The Writer’s Guide to Avoiding Side-Hustle Burnout [The Write Life]
- Freelancing abroad in a world obsessed with Trump [CJR]
- Kit and advice for shooting and editing with a smartphone [Journalism.co.uk]
- The power of awful [offal] first drafts [Poynter]
- Tip: Use these tools to keep your sources and digital work safe [Journalism.co.uk]
- Goodbye Contributor Network. And thanks for nothing [Poynter]
- Advice for navigating the vital but vulnerable world of freelance journalism [Journalism.co.uk]
- 3 incentive programs that can help increase your clientele [Freelancers Union]
- When writers talk about what they want from editors [Jack Limpert]
Recently on Story Board:
- CMG Freelance members get access to free photography training through KelbyOne: Are you a professional photographer in need of a skills upgrade? Or would you like to improve your photography abilities in order to diversify your freelance business? One of the benefits of membership in CMG Freelance is access to the online training platform KelbyOne…
- New tool for seeking diverse journalism sources: Freelance writers and journalists looking for ways to bring diversity into their reporting have a new tool at their disposal. Request A Woman Scientist helps journalists find scientific expertise from women for everything from interviews and panel discussions to workshops and conference keynotes…
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.
New tool for seeking diverse journalism sources
Freelance writers and journalists looking for ways to bring diversity into their reporting have a new tool at their disposal.
Request A Woman Scientist helps journalists find scientific expertise from women for everything from interviews and panel discussions to workshops and conference keynotes.
The site was created by 500 Women Scientists, a grassroots organization based in the U.S. that’s working to build community and advocate for science, women, and minorities. The Request a Women Scientist project aims to close the pervasive gender gap in the media and on conference panels — research shows that men’s and women’s voices are not equally represented when it comes to expert sources quoted in news stories.
Request A Woman Scientist allows users to narrow down searches by location, field of expertise, and level of education. It also allows searchers to seek out women scientists from other underrepresented groups
The website also suggests a number of additional resources to help journalists diversity their reporting, including the website Diverse Sources — a database of science, health and environment experts from underrepresented backgrounds — and Women Also Know Stuff, which promotes and publicizes the work of women political scientists.
CMG Freelance members get access to free photography training through KelbyOne
Are you a professional photographer in need of a skills upgrade? Or would you like to improve your photography abilities in order to diversify your freelance business?
One of the benefits of membership in CMG Freelance is access to the online training platform KelbyOne, which has over 700 training modules on photography, Photoshop and Lightroom.
CMG Freelance members can request full access to the site for a two-week period. When each period runs out, members can reapply for access. There are a limited number of accounts for use by union members, so there may be a short waiting list at times. During your access period, you’ll have unlimited access to the KelbyOne online learning resources.
You’ll also be able to get discounts through all of KelbyOne’s business partners, which include Apple, Adobe, and B&H Photo.
KelbyOne is focused on photography skills, but CMG Freelance members also get access to Lynda.com, which offers video training modules in creative fields like design, audio, music and photography, as well as business, marketing and more.
To request access to either KelbyOne or Lynda.com, members can email CMG Freelance branch president Don Genova at freelance@cmg.ca for further instructions.
If you’re not yet a CMG Freelance member, you can find out more about the cost and other benefits of membership right here.
Off the Wire: News for the Canadian media freelancer Jan 23-29
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:
- Ottawa poised to help newspapers in upcoming budget [CBC]
- Message to co-workers at VICE Canada on a difficult day [CMG]
- CJF-CBC Indigenous Journalist Fellowships [CJF]
- Student newspapers are thriving environments for aspiring journalists [J-Source]
- Rogers severs joint venture with Vice Canada [Canadian Magazines]
From The U.S. and beyond:
- The Internet is Enabling a New Kind of Poorly Paid Hell [The Atlantic]
- The Gig Economy Is Especially Susceptible to Sexual Harassment [New Yorker]
- 10 tips that will turn you into an epic freelancer [Freelancers Union]
- Going Digital: Inside New Science Journalism Outlets [The Open Notebook]
- There’s a new award for freelancers (and it comes with $100,000) [Poynter]
- Will Work For No Benefits: The Challenges Of Being In The New Contract Workforce [NPR]
- Kim Wall Memorial Fund inaugural grant open [IWMF]
Recently on Story Board:
- Winter Media Mixer February 13 in Toronto: Enjoy free snacks and drinks as you make connections with your colleagues working in the media. There will be mentors from several media outlets in attendance, including VICE, CBC, Corus Entertainment and the Canadian Press…
- Top Five Ways to Spot Fake News: Calling the morgue to confirm whether an employee was cremated while having a nap is not fun, says Jane Lytvynenko. But for contemporary journalists, this kind of fact-checking task is an important part of the job.
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.
Winter Media Mixer February 13 in Toronto
Toronto-area media students and freelancers, you’re invited to a free mixer on Tuesday, February 13 from 6:00 – 8:30 p.m. at Watson’s (388 Richmond St W).
Enjoy free snacks and drinks as you make connections with your colleagues working in the media. There will be mentors from several media outlets in attendance, including VICE, CBC, Corus Entertainment and the Canadian Press. This event has been organized by CWA Canada, the country’s only all media union, with 6,000 members at media companies and newspapers coast to coast.
Tickets are free, but please register to reserve your space at this link. This venue is wheelchair accessible and has gender-neutral washrooms.
