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."

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]
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…
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…
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. 1. Where are you when most of your story ideas come to you?Usually in conversation with friends. I do a bunch of different stuff, freelancing is just one aspect of my…
The second in the Canadian Media Guild's Freelance Friday workshop series is coming up next week in Toronto. This time, the topic is Freelance Contracts: How to value your work, get it in writing and get paid. CMG staff rep Keith Maskell will explore the nuts and bolts of freelance contracts and will give participants the tools they need 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.   I still use old-school email to promote myself to potential new clients as well as for keeping in touch with select past clients. They…
[View the story "Tax matters with Sunny Widerman" on Storify]
Freelance writers, photographers and web developers are advised that a Toronto-based startup magazine is behind on payments to its contributors.The Revelation Magazine, an online publication that bills itself as a "non-denomination Christian lifestyle magazine," published one issue in December before suspending publication in mid-January. More than…

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