Off the Wire: May 2025

May 27, 2025 Editor News newsoff the wire

We're revitalizing our series, Off the Wire. Here, we gather stories about the media business, journalism, writing, communications, and freelancing—with a Canadian focus. Who needs a water cooler?

With freelance participation on the rise and regulations tightening, it’s more important than ever to stay informed. Here are the latest stories shaping the future of freelancing and media in Canada.

Webinar: Is Your LinkedIn Profile Working?

May 21, 2025 Editor Event eventevents

As the social media landscape continues to evolve, the CFG and many of our members are shifting focus away from more contentious sites like Meta/Facebook and Twitter/X, while increasing their activity on LinkedIn, the business-friendly platform now owned and operated by Microsoft.

AI and the freelance writer in 2025

May 16, 2025 Editor Advice trouble spots

In 2025, artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer a looming force on the horizon. It’s here, embedded in the everyday work of many freelance writers.From content ideation to editing and even pitching, AI is changing how creative professionals work. For freelance writers across Canada, the challenge for most isn’t avoiding AI but learning how…

How to avoid bad clients: 8 tips for self-employed workers

May 09, 2025 Editor Advice advice

This article with tips to avoid bad clients is by Julie Barlow and Jean-Benoît Nadeau, authors of GOING SOLO: Everything You Need to Start Your Business and Succeed as Your Own Boss.Every freelancer has clients who don’t pay on time or don’t pay at all. They cook up stories about invoices blowing off their desks or getting lost. They ghost you…

Webinar: 10 Ways to Protect Yourself from Generative AI

April 30, 2025 Editor Event eventevents

Generative Artificial Intelligence (Gen AI) continues to spread into our daily lives. Some love it, some hate it, and some feel both emotions depending on the time of day.Back in the fall of 2022 shortly after the release of ChatGPT, the fear running rampant through the creative class was that AI was going to take our work and our clients. We've…

Off the Wire: April 2025

April 23, 2025 Editor News newsoff the wire

We're revitalizing our series, Off the Wire. Here, we gather stories about the media business, journalism, writing, communications, and freelancing—with a Canadian focus. Who needs a water cooler?As the election unfolds, so too does the landscape of freelance and media work in Canada. This month, we’re tracking major developments that impact…

Eight ways to keep things simple for freelance writers

April 09, 2025 Editor Advice advice

This article about keeping things simple for freelance writers is by Julie Barlow and Jean-Benoît Nadeau, the authors of Going Solo: Everything You Need to Start Your Business and Succeed as Your Own Boss. Prize-winning authors and journalists, the pair have been running a freelance writing business for over three decades.Managing a small business…

Off the Wire: March 2025

March 31, 2025 Editor News newsoff the wire

We're revitalizing our series, Off the Wire. Here, we gather stories about the media business, journalism, writing, communications, and freelancing—with a Canadian focus. Who needs a water cooler?New regulations and industry shifts in Canada are shaping how independent workers operate. From tax reporting changes affecting gig workers to emerging…

Navigating the Contract Maze: Expert Strategies for Freelance Success

March 19, 2025 Editor Event eventevents

"The Devil is in the details!" That describes the importance that successful negotiations play in getting contracts that are comprehensible, unambiguous, and mutually beneficial.That's the ideal. Reality is often far off the mark.In March 2025, the Canadian Freelance Guild hosted a webinar on Contracts and Negotiations for Freelancers featuring…

16 ways to say no as a freelance writer (and why you would need to)

March 05, 2025 Editor Advice freelance lifetrouble spots

This article about ways to say no is by Julie Barlow and Jean-Benoît Nadeau, authors of Going Solo: Everything You Need to Start Your Business and Succeed as Your Own Boss. Why would any freelancer ever want to say “no”?All successful self-employed creators know: sometimes you have push back. It’s a big ask for beginners trying to build a…