Crafting the “Reactive Story” — Reworking News Stories into Web Features
by Steven Threndyle If you’re as ADD as most writers I know, you probably spend a bit of your day on social media and get a significant amount of your news from what your friends are posting or tweeting. And, if you’re in story-hunting mode, (and you should always be in story hunting mode), you […]
The 5-Minute Freelancer Q&A #35 — Geoff Dembicki
In this regular feature, Story Board asks Canadian writers to share a few details about their work habits and their strategies for navigating the ups and downs of freelance life. Geoff Dembicki got into journalism at a strange time. He graduated from Carleton University’s journalism program in 2008, when the financial crisis and other troubles were causing the folding and downsizing […]
Back to School: The ABC’s of CBC Freelance Contracts
by Don Genova There are actually A’s, and B’s, and C stands for Copyright in a typical CBC Freelance Contributor Contract, but I’ll get to those in a bit. With the new broadcast season, more local and national programs, radio, TV or digital, will be engaging freelancers to provide material for their shows in the […]
The Born Freelancer on Getting Names Right
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. Names possess almost magical power unlike any other words. Used correctly, they can help foster confidence, trust, empathy and credibility. Incorrect use can be […]
Pitching around staff writers
By Brittany Duggan As a freelancer, it’s hard to keep of track of which Canadian media outlets still have budgets for outsourcing. “The Globe has a freeze on freelancers for another month,” a colleague told me recently while we brainstormed where to pitch a story. A Toronto editor told her this after a pitch she […]
How To Stand Out As A Freelance Podcast Producer
by Jeremy Enns When I moved to Vancouver to start audio school back in 2011, I knew what I was getting into. I was aware of the already long declining state of the music industry. I knew how few studios had staff audio engineer positions, and I knew how hard I would have to work […]
The Born Freelancer interviews writer Robin Brunet
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 feel extremely fortunate to have lived precisely the way I always wanted. Very few people can genuinely lay claim to that.” – Robin […]
The 5-Minute Freelancer Q&A #34 — Anne Mullens
In this regular feature, Story Board asks Canadian writers to share a few details about their work habits and their strategies for navigating the ups and downs of freelance life. Anne Mullens is an award-winning freelance health writer, author, editor and health communications consultant who lives in Victoria, B.C. She has won a dozen awards for her writing, which […]
Turning Your Holiday into a Travel Writing Opportunity
By Brittany Duggan As a freelancer, days not worked are days not paid. But that doesn’t you mean don’t get to take holidays, whether in your own backyard or to somewhere more exotic. It just might mean you get creative about how to turn your holiday into future writing opportunities. I’ve just emerged back onto […]
Freelancer Katie Jensen talks about the importance of income transparency in Canadian media
*Editor’s Note: July 28, 2017. This post has been updated to include an addendum to clarify certain points raised in the Q+A. by Vanessa Hrvatin On July 5, freelance podcast producer Katie Jensen publicly shared her 2016 net income as part of a Twitter thread she hashtagged #incometransparency. The 29-year-old has been in the freelance […]
