Upcoming Doc Project mentorship program deadline October 15

October 04, 2017 Editor Event audiocbccbc freelancersradiothe doc project

Good news for freelance radio producers: there's another deadline coming up this month for the CBC Doc Project Mentorship Program.

You'll need to get your pitches in by October 15th to be considered for this round of documentary production. The Doc Project is open to CBC employees and Canadian freelancers with demonstrated experience with audio. Past freelance mentorship program participants include CMG Freelance members Willow Yamauchi and Rebecca Hass.

To find out if you're eligible for the program -- and for details about the application process -- you can check out the Doc Project page on the CBC website as well as this Story Board post.

Members of CMG Freelance also have access to an archived webinar with CBC producer Tanya Springer on how to pitch to The Doc Project. If you have your membership number, you can log in to the CMG Freelance website and go to this page for access to that webinar. If you're a new member and have not yet received your membership number, please send an email to freelance@cmg.ca for assistance.

Crafting the “Reactive Story” — Reworking News Stories into Web Features

October 03, 2017 Editor Advice advicepitching

by Steven ThrendyleIf you’re as ADD as most writers I know, you probably spend a bit of your day on social media and get a significant amount of your news from what your friends are posting or tweeting. And, if you’re in story-hunting mode, (and you should always be in story hunting mode), you might think of a fresh angle and, even better, have…

Off the Wire: News for the Canadian media freelancer Sept 26-Oct 2

October 02, 2017 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: Support will continue for Canada Periodical Fund [Canadian Magazines] Heritage minister unveils 'Creative Canada' initiative [J-Source] Pitching:…

Toronto media mixer: Beyond Diversity

September 27, 2017 Editor Event diversityeventmedia mixer

Toronto-area media students and freelancers, you're invited to the free Beyond Diversity mixer on Wednesday, October 11th from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Page One Cafe (106 Mutual St). From the “appropriation prize” fiasco, to the editorial decision to protect the identity of a woman who used a racial slur, these incidents over the last few months…

Webinar: The Art of Lifestyle Writing

September 26, 2017 Editor Event eventlifestyle writingwebinar

One of the best things about lifestyle journalism is how much this beat is about real life. From what we should be eating, to how to interact with our partners, to which health issue matters the most in the community, lifestyle journalism has the power to change how people live.If you'd like to learn more about lifestyle writing, join us on…

Off the Wire: News for the Canadian media freelancer Sept 19-25

September 25, 2017 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: National Post newsroom staff file to unionize [CWA Canada] Vice urges RCMP to drop demand for materials if accused terrorist long dead [J-Source]…

Call for interviews with freelance and contract media workers

September 22, 2017 Editor Journalism cwa canada

Have you worked as a freelance or contract employee in digital journalism in Canada or the United States at any time between 2013 and 2017? Researcher Errol Salamon would like to hear about your experiences for a textbook on labour issues facing media workers in North America. Salamon is a Canadian Media Guild freelance member, postdoctoral…

The 5-Minute Freelancer Q&A #35 — Geoff Dembicki

September 19, 2017 Editor Advice 5-minute freelanceradvicedave greber award winnerfreelancer q&a

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.Geoff Dembicki got into journalism at a strange time. He graduated from Carleton University's journalism program in 2008, when the financial crisis and other troubles…

Off the Wire: News for the Canadian media freelancer Sept 12-18

September 18, 2017 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: Here's what Jessica Johnson has planned for The Walrus [J-Source] Here's why editorial staff at the National Post have started a unionization…

Freelance journalists and responsible communication

September 15, 2017 Editor Advice defamationjournalismlibelresponsible communication

By Brittany DugganIt’s no secret that journalism today is in great flux.For years, the industry has been negotiating fast-paced digital disruption.This has required journalism to seek new ways to pay for itself while still serving its civic duty. The decline in resources means, among other things, a decline in the ability to pay for deeper,…