Toronto launch party for freelance alliance

December 01, 2010 Editor Event canadian media guildcanadian writers groupevent

The launch of the alliance between the Canadian Media Guild and the Canadian Writers Group will be celebrated on Tuesday December 7 at Toronto's Gladstone Hotel (1214 Queen St. West, near Dufferin). The event starts at 6 pm. There will be a brief presentation and a chance to ask questions at 6:30 pm. Snacks and drinks will be served.

Please RSVP to rob@canadianwritersgroup.com.

Signs of optimism as 2010 winds down

December 01, 2010 Editor News digitalmagazines

Magazine and newspaper publishers have some news to smile about south of the border. The first comes from Jim Romenesko at Poynter: newspapers can look forward to an increase in digital ad revenue next year, according to industry consultant Kubas. You can see the Kubas forecast here.What's more, there's a signal that the death of print is…

New alliance to fight for rights for freelancers

December 01, 2010 Editor News canadian media guildcanadian writers groupfreelance contractsnegotiationssuccess stories

The alliance between the Canadian Media Guild and the Canadian Writers Group was officially launched today. It's a first-ever alliance between an agency that represents independent journalists and a union and will advocate for freelancers on issues such as rates, copyright and digital and re-use rights."I'm proud to be a partner in this alliance,"…

Rogers refuses to remove writer’s work from Yahoo

November 30, 2010 Editor News canadian media guildcanadian writers groupdigitalfreelance contractsnegotiationsrogers publishingtrouble spots

This fall, Rogers Publishing started syndicating work by independent journalists on line. The Canadian Writers Group (CWG) noticed in September that stories from late 2009 and early 2010 by Patricia Pearson and Ellen Vanstone, first published in Chatelaine, were posted on Yahoo’s “Lifestyle” site. When an editor at Chatelaine was contacted,…

What do you do when you’re stiffed?

November 30, 2010 Editor News advicecanadian media guildfreelance contractsgetting paidnegotiations

A small group of freelancers recently had this experience. They were engaged by a Toronto-based publisher to provide material for some specialized periodicals. The terms of the contract were clear and unequivocal. The price and deadline were set. Payment was due 30 days after publication date.Wait a minute. After publication date, not after…

“The future lies in apps, not on shelves”

November 30, 2010 Editor News digitali-padmagazines

Virgin's Richard Branson launched his i-Pad magazine today, taking a flyer on the future of digital-only mags. "Project" focuses on "design, entertainment, technology, entrepreneurs." Sounds like a publication after Branson's own heart.<iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/17285675?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" width="590"…

What do you say when they ask if you’ll work for free?

November 23, 2010 Editor Advice advicebroadcastingfreelancer ratesgetting paid

We’re hearing that a certain national TV broadcaster – not the CBC – has been inviting people onto national news programs in return for … no payment.Sometimes, it may make sense for you to appear on a program without getting paid for it. If you’ve written a book and you figure going on national television to flog your book is as good a…

Tips for negotiating a contract with an engager

November 22, 2010 Editor Advice advicegetting paidnegotiations

GET IT IN BLACK AND WHITE: Always sign a contract before you begin work. Document your negotiations and the promises of your editors. It will help ensure you get paid properly in case there are any disputes.SHOW ME THE MONEY! If you are an experienced freelancer, avoid working for the minimum rates wherever possible. Your fee should reflect your…