Forum Freelance Fund expands its bursary program

May 21, 2014 Editor News bursarycanadian journalism forum on violence and traumaforum freelance fundsafety training

Media outlets are relying more heavily on freelancers to cover news breaking in hazardous environments these days. This means that increasing numbers of freelancers are on their own in conflict zones and other dangerous environments without the support of the organizations that publish and broadcast their work.

In response to the growing number of freelancers at risk, the Forum Freelance Fund is doubling the number of safety training bursaries it will grant to Canadian freelancers this year.

Application for the bursaries are open to Canadian freelancers with more than 18 months of experience as well as those who have accepted assignments in dangerous places.

The bursaries are to be used by freelancers to attend safety training courses offered by a number of approved course providers. The deadline for application has been moved forward this year to June 30th and the awards will be granted in July.

For more information or to apply for a bursary, see the Forum Freelance Fund webpage.

Off The Wire: News for the Canadian media freelancer May 13-20

May 20, 2014 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: Calling All Publishing Professionals: Collaborating to Succeed [PWAC Toronto] (via @LuigiBenetton) La Presse to cease printing newspapers —…

Saint John Seven end strike, MBS Radio begins lock-out

May 15, 2014 Editor News canadian media guildcollective actionmbs radioradiosaint john seventrouble spots

The seven unionized workers at MBS Radio in Saint John, New Brunswick called an end to their 686-day strike last week. Their employer responded with a lock-out notice, saying they will not be allowed to return to work without a collective agreement.The Saint John Seven joined the Canadian Media Guild in 2011 and spent almost a year trying to…

Freelance Friday! Selling Yourself, Selling Your Ideas

May 14, 2014 Editor Event eventfreelance fridayfreelance panelpitching

Toronto freelancers, there's a Freelance Friday panel discussion coming up next week called Selling Yourself, Selling Your Ideas.The free event, organized by CMG Freelance, is on Friday May 23rd from 1-4 pm at the Westin Harbour Castle Hotel (1 Harbour Square) in the "Pier 9" room on the hotel's convention level.The panel on pitching,…

Vancouver Summer Writing Institute application deadline this week

May 12, 2014 Editor Event eventvancouverwriting institute

This Friday is the application deadline for three intensive summer writing workshops offered by The Story We Be. The intensives range in focus from personal memoir to journalistic prose. The three workshops are taught by writer and performer mia susan amir, multimedia journalist David Ball, and artist and writer lee williams boudakian.Workshops are…

Off The Wire: News for the Canadian media freelancer May 6-12

May 12, 2014 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: Union: Globe proposes reporters write advertorial copy [J-Source] Veteran journalist Linden MacIntyre first high-profile casualty of CBC…

Photographer Christopher Grabowski on the challenges of freelancing

May 09, 2014 Editor News

by Rachel SandersChristopher Grabowski is an award-winning photographer whose work has been published in the Globe and Mail, the Washington Post, and MacLean's among many other North American and European publications. Grabowski is presenting a Tyee Master Class in Vancouver tomorrow and took the time to talk with Story Board this week about…

The Born Freelancer on the Value of Having a ‘Plan B’

May 09, 2014 Editor Advice adviceborn freelancerfreelance life

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? Your input is welcome in the comments. Definitions: "A Plan" or "Plan A" - The ideal career/lifestyle. For most of us it's creative freelancing."B Plan" or "Plan B" - A…

Off The Wire: News for the Canadian media freelancer April 29-May 5

May 05, 2014 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: Walrus unpaid interns are back -- with pay [Toronto Star] Torstar's Harlequin romance ends: sold to Newscorp for $455 million [Globe and Mail] New…

Coding + Storytelling = New Hybrid Career

May 01, 2014 Editor Event

In digital media, the nature of our work never stops changing. Convergence of media and message, technology and worker has never been so intense. We're all constantly having to stretch our skills in a world of increasingly diversifying expectations.Journalists are learning to code. Coders are being pushed into the world of storytelling. What…