Off The Wire: News for the Canadian media freelancer April 28-May 4

May 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:

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Postmedia launches new advertising division [J-Source]
Global safety recommendations fail to arm freelancers with necessary supports [J-Source]
Desmond Cole on writing about the skin he's in [J-Source]
5 Seriously Dumb Myths About Copyright the Media Should Stop Repeating [Medium]
2015 Kenneth R. Wilson awards nominees announced [J-Source]
Western Magazine Awards suspended? [Canadian Magazines]

From The U.S. and beyond:

How self-publishing on LinkedIn can elevate your professional profile [Mashable]
Indemnity clauses leave freelancers open to lawsuits [Poynter]
7 questions to answer BEFORE you crowdfund your art [Freelancers Union]
How to Overcome Social Anxiety When You Work From Home [The Write Life]
5 tips every first-time freelancer needs to know [Freelancers Union]
Ask a Freelancer: My Work Just Dried Up. What Do I Do? [The Freelancer]
Financial tips for freelancers who don't like dealing with finance [Freelancers Union]
What Literary Agents Want to See Before Signing With a Writer [The Write Life]

Last week on Story Board:

Writer Scott Carney launches WordRates & PitchLab Kickstarter: Last Friday, Scott Carney launched a Kickstarter campaign for a two-pronged website project called WordRates & PitchLab, which aims to improve working conditions and rates for freelance writers...
Business Skills For Your Arts Career weekend workshop: The business side of a creative career can be difficult to manage. But if you’re a CMG Freelance member in Toronto, there’s an upcoming weekend workshop on business skills for self-employed artists that will help...

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.

Writer Scott Carney launches WordRates & PitchLab Kickstarter

April 30, 2015 Editor News crowdfundingfreelance compensationfreelance contractsgetting paidkickstarterscott carneywordrates & pitchlab

by Rachel SandersScott 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 to get a…

Off The Wire: News for the Canadian media freelancer April 21-27

April 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: Press Council investigates complaint against journalists blocking reader on Twitter [J-Source] BuzzFeed hires author of award-winning book on…

CWA Canada Votes to Protect Interns

April 24, 2015 Editor News cwa canadainternsunpaid internships

by Kayla PerryAt CWA Canada’s National Representative Council (NRC) meeting on April 17, voting members unanimously agreed to endorse two documents, both of which aim to protect media interns in the workplace.The first document presented to the NRC by the CWA Canada Associate Member Steering Committee was a policy statement on the equitable use…

Off The Wire: News for the Canadian media freelancer April 14-20

April 20, 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: Latest round of cuts at CBC represents massive upheaval in newsgathering capacity [CMG] CBC says conclusions from Ghomeshi report "troubling and…

Unpaid internships: A moral dilemma for journalism students and the media community

April 14, 2015 Editor News internshipsmedia worksunpaid internships

by Zoe Melnyk Journalism students across Ontario are struggling with the moral dilemma of participating in unpaid internships while trying to build experience for their portfolios.Journalism students are being taught that simply having a degree isn’t enough to get a job anymore. Students are being pushed into doing internships and the…

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

April 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: (Dis)liking digital copyright demands [J-Source] Canadian journalism schools and the internship issue…work for pay or pay to work? [J-Source]…

Off The Wire: News for the Canadian media freelancer Mar 31-April 6

April 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: In science reporting, when does background become baggage? [J-Source] Black Press folds two Vancouver Island newspapers [J-Source] Finalists' names…

2015 Dave Greber Freelance Writers Awards Seeking Submissions

April 01, 2015 Editor News awardsdave greber freelance writers awards

If you've written about social justice issues this year, you're eligible to submit your work for the Dave Greber Freelance Writers Awards.There are two awards -- one for books and one for magazines -- both of which are given to freelance writers of non-fiction on social justice-related topics. Books and magazines that have not yet been completed…

Off The Wire: News for the Canadian media freelancer Mar 24-30

March 30, 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: CBC announces 244 national cuts: A timeline [J-Source] Nominees announced for SABEW Best In Business Awards [Masthead] CAJ & AKFC announce two…