Content Creators Coalition making inroads for artists’ rights

August 06, 2015 Editor News content creators coalition

The Content Creators Coalition, an American organization that advocates for "creators of cultural content," has had some success over the past few weeks with its campaign for artists' rights. In mid-July, NPR dropped out of the MIC Coalition -- a group that is allegedly lobbying to reduce payments for music use -- after pressure from the Content Creators Coalition and the musicFIRST Coalition.

The Content Creators Coalition's response to NPR's withdrawal states that the organization wants to develop a partnership with the broadcaster to develop "innovative methods of licensing that will benefit music performers, music creators and NPR listeners."

Amazon also withdrew from the MIC Coalition in June over its focus on music pricing.

The Content Creators Coalition is now working with musicFIRST to support the Fair Play Fair Pay Act, which was introduced in U.S. Congress earlier this year. The Act would require terrestrial radio stations to pay royalties to performers as well as songwriters.

You can follow the Content Creators Coalition on Twitter or like them on Facebook to stay up-to-date on the latest news on artists' rights and compensation.

Off The Wire: News for the Canadian media freelancer July 28-August 4

August 04, 2015 Editor News newsoff the wire

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: Six Summer Reads to Improve Your Freelance Business [PWAC Toronto] I'm calling it: Podcasting is the future of journalism [The Tyee] CBC journalist…

Off The Wire: News for the Canadian media freelancer July 20-27

July 27, 2015 Editor News newsoff the wire

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: Broken Pencil celebrates two decades of 'zining [Canadian Magazines] The Syrup Trap brings its humour to print [Masthead] Wrongful dismissal suit…

Off The Wire: News for the Canadian media freelancer July 7-13

July 13, 2015 Editor News newsoff the wire

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: Memo: newsroom culture at the Globe [J-Source] CanLit’s $100,000 controversy: Canadian writers and publishers react [The Province] Bad blood: The…

Off The Wire: News for the Canadian media freelancer June 30-July 6

July 06, 2015 Editor News newsoff the wire

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: Canada's creative industries can lead the economic charge [Globe and Mail] Jesse Brown on Canadaland's Globe and Mail report [J-Source] On newsroom…

Off The Wire: News for the Canadian media freelancer June 23-29

June 29, 2015 Editor News newsoff the wire

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: Memo: CBC note to employees on field harassment [J-Source] Freelancer takes to Twitter to expose low-paying writing jobs [Masthead] Event review:…

Independent media is the heart of a democratic society

June 26, 2015 Editor News cmghamilton independent media awardsindependent media

by Amanda Stewart On June 23rd, the Hamilton Independent Media Awards hosted a discussion panel at the Central Public Library in downtown Hamilton on the importance of independent media within a democratic society. The panel consisted of Michelle Both -- managing editor of Unpack Magazine; Luz Hernandez -- director of La Presencia Latina; Ryan…

Freelance journalist Laura Robinson’s lawsuit against John Furlong underway in BC Supreme Court

June 25, 2015 Editor News defamationfreelancejohn furlonglaura robinson

Freelance journalist Laura Robinson's defamation trial against former Olympics CEO John Furlong has been underway in BC Supreme Court since last Monday. The lawsuit stems from an article that Robinson wrote in September of 2012 for Vancouver's Georgia Straight newspaper in which several of Furlong's former students alleged that he physically…

Off The Wire: News for the Canadian media freelancer June 16-22

June 22, 2015 Editor News newsoff the wire

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: Vivian Smith's "Outsiders Still" a hard look at Canadian newspapers' gender problem [J-Source] Freelance journalist alleges former Vancouver Olympic…

Off The Wire: News for the Canadian media freelancer June 9-15

June 15, 2015 Editor News newsoff the wire

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 editor and writer Jocelyn Laurence has died [Canadian Magazines] CBC host Evan Solomon fired after Star investigation finds he took secret…