New monthly payment option for CMG Freelance members

July 07, 2016 Editor News cmg freelancefreelance union

Good news, CMG Freelance members: there's now a brand new way to pay your dues.

You've still got the option of paying the annual fee of $150. But if you'd prefer to pay on a monthly basis, you can pay $15 per month for your freelance union membership.

The monthly dues option gives you access to all of the benefits of membership -- except for the CMG Freelance media card. To be eligible for the media card, you'll need to pay annually because the card's expiry date is linked to your annual membership renewal date.

Interested in joining our freelance union? You can apply here or check out this page for more information about the benefits of membership.

And if you've been thinking of joining, now is a great time to take the plunge. While supplies last, we're offering a welcome package that includes our "Exposure Bucks" t-shirt, a notepad and pen and some other CMG Freelance goodies.

If you have any questions about membership please feel free to contact CMG Freelance president Don Genova at freelance@cmg.ca.

Freelancers helped invent digital communications tools to build online networks

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This post is the sixth in a series called “E-Lancer Writes,” exploring the working conditions, rights, and collective organizing strategies of freelance journalists, interns, and other low-wage or temporary digital media workers. By Errol Salamon Before the Internet and World Wide Web became fully commercialized in the mid-1990s,…

Off The Wire: News for the Canadian media freelancer June 28-July 4

July 04, 2016 Editor News newsoff the wire

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Writers speak out against The Walrus’s new freelance agreement

June 29, 2016 Editor News freelance contractsthe walrustrouble spots

Last fall, The Walrus’s contributor agreement came under scrutiny during what is referred to by many freelancers as “the Alex Gillis affair.”The incident – which you can read about in detail on Canadaland – led to a discussion on the Toronto Freelance Editors and Writers listserv about kill fees and “idea appropriation.”Literary agent…

Another freelancer alleges “idea appropriation” by The Walrus

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During the past year, management at The Walrus magazine has been accused of poor treatment of staff and freelancers. This month, another freelance writer has come to Story Board with new allegations.Ontario writer Ann Silversides told Story Board that she pitched a story about a new business to The Walrus last July. The magazine told her that her…

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

June 27, 2016 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: Columnist's firing at B.C.-based Chinese paper stirs press-freedom concerns [Globe and Mail] Briarpatch magazine says it is on the brink, "running…

The 5-Minute Freelancer Q&A #30—M. Jay Smith

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In this regular feature, Story Board asks Canadian writers to share a few details about their work habits and their strategies for navigating the ups and downs of freelance life. M. Jay Smith is an Edmonton-based writer of non-fiction and poetry. Her writing has been published by such outlets as Reader's Digest, Adbusters, the Los…

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

June 20, 2016 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: Copyright-free material edging out Canadian educational texts [CBC] OWL Magazine launches current affairs website [Masthead] Crowd-sourced map…

Mixer for factual TV workers in Toronto

June 16, 2016 Editor Event eventfactual tv

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The Born Freelancer on Working for a (Possible) Sociopath

June 16, 2016 Editor Advice adviceborn freelancerthe born freelancer

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. "I just like f***ing with your heads". That was the undeniably truthful but totally unexpected explanation I received once upon a time…