Canada’s meeting place for freelance writers and creators

Established 2010

There's nothing quite as frustrating to a freelancer as having to chase a publisher down for unpaid invoices. Story Board has reported on late-paying Canadian publishers a couple of times over the past few months. In both cases, freelancers were angry enough to go public with their complaints.

Last fall, a similarly frustrated freelance journalist started a website to name and shame late-paying publishers. With the help of the founders of the journalism crowdfunding site Beacon Reader, Iona Craig launched Pay Me Please, a site dedicated to outing publishers who owe their freelancers money.

And, according to a post this week on the Contently website, it's having an impact. Since the site launched in October of 2013, over one hundred unpaid invoices have been listed on the site. The amounts owing range from a few Euros to thousands of dollars and the late-payers run the gamut from obscure little publishers to major players like Al Jazeera, BBC, Esquire Weekly and FoxNews.com.

The Contently post says that so far 16 of the invoices listed on the site have been paid. But more importantly, Iona Craig says that some publishers have responded to the mere threat of being named on Pay Me Please.

Contently says that as Pay Me Please gains visibility, it will become more and more useful to "disenfranchised creatives" who have few options when faced with non-paying clients. So share widely, freelancers.

And if you're owed by a tardy publisher, maybe it's time to say "enough is enough. Pay Me Please."

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:  TWUC co-founder Heather Robertson dies at 72 [Quill & Quire] (via @twuc) David Frum becomes senior editor of The Atlantic [Canadian…
Canadian journalist Heather Robertson passed away this week at the age of 72. Robertson co-founded both the Writers' Union of Canada and the Professional Writers Association of Canada. She was a best-selling and award-winning author who championed the rights of freelancers in the digital age.Robertson's 1995 class-action lawsuit against the Globe…
The Canadian Media Guild has launched a new website for its freelance branch. Designed as "a 21st century commons for self-employed workers," the new site offers news updates and professional supports that include information about education and training programs and extended health benefit packages.CMG freelance organizer Datejie Green says…
[View the story "Value Your Work, Get It In Writing, and Get Paid" on Storify]
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: The Story Behind the Rob Ford Story [The Walrus] The first line of accountability on campus: student journalism [Globe and Mail] North Shore Outlook…
The Canadian University Press's fundraising campaign is underway, but the national campus newspaper co-operative still has a long way to go before it reaches its $50,000 goal.Last week, CUP launched an indiegogo campaign to raise money to help it through a financial crisis that's threatening the 76-year-old organization's continued existence.CUP…
CMG Freelance is inviting active members to join the group of delegates attending the CMG Convention in Toronto this year, May 23-25.We have three delegate positions that will be selected through an application process. We’re especially interested in applications from our newest, non-CBC freelancers. Travel, accommodation and per diems are all…
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: Toronto freelance photographer killed in Syria [Toronto Star] How to promote your book: Event review [PWAC Toronto] Writers' Union of Canada now to…
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.   In my last post I described my use of email to periodically market my freelancing services. I said that I was looking into further…

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