Archive for May, 2011
Take the Canadian magazine freelancers survey
Gearing up for the NMAs this month, we thought a survey on the state of magazine freelancing in Canada was in order. It’s also a chance to take your own picks for the best work in Canadian magazines last year (see the NMAF’s list of nominees). Results of the survey will be published here on Friday, June 10, the date of the NMA gala.
A too-familiar story: one freelancer’s run-in with plagiarism
Imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery, but not when your work isn’t credited — or compensated. Earlier this month, freelance writer Luigi Benetton received a message from an editor who had come across one of his articles online. The only problem was that it was posted under someone else’s byline and it was […]
To be or not to be (in a union), that is the question
This series of posts by the Born Freelancer will share personal experiences and thoughts on issues relevant to freelancers. Have something to add to the conversation? Your input is welcome in the comments. “I wouldn’t belong to any club that would have me as a member” — attributed to Groucho Marx I usually feel the […]
Event: Creative Freelancer Conference, June 23-24, Chicago
The Creative Freelancer Conference, sponsored by HOW magazine and Marketing Mentor, is happening in Chicago on June 23 and 24. Conference attendees will get: ● expert advice on marketing and finances ● insight into the fine art of balancing your work and home life ● details on developing a viable business plan ● plus ample […]
Kingston wants its above-Standard newspaper back
After years of newsroom cuts that they say have tarnished the image of their once-great local paper, Kingston residents and area journalists have had enough. Together with Communications Workers of America — Canada, they are launching a campaign to put pressure on the Kingston Whig-Standard‘s owner, Quebecor, to restore the paper to its former glory. […]
BC Business editor quits after publisher kills story
Matt O’Grady resigned from his editor-in-chief position at BC Business one week ago. It wasn’t one of those resignations that’s code for “got fired.” He really truly quit. According to this Vancouver Sun article, his beef with the magazine’s publisher, Peter Legge, was over a cover story for the June issue that O’Grady felt was […]
Au revoir, Rue Frontenac?
Rue Frontenac launched in winter 2009 as website for locked-out workers at the Journal de Montreal, offering union information on the conflict between the paper and its unionized workers that began in January 2009. The site also posts general news, offering those locked-out journalists an outlet for their work. A print edition of Rue […]
Breaking news, and breaking even (sometimes)
By guest contributor Karen Wirsig It used to be that the capitalists who owned newspapers took care of the money and hired fleets of journalists mostly focused on covering the news. Sure, there were conflicts in this scenario. Lots of them. But it was a generally workable model for reporting to a mass audience and […]
Journalists need to brush up on business knowledge, report says
Freelancers have perhaps always known more about the business of journalism than their permanently employed counterparts. But now, at least according to an extensive report from the Graduate School of Journalism at Columbia University, all journalists need to educate themselves about where their pay cheques are coming from. This story about the report in the […]
Final decision handed down in latest Robertson class action suit
For better or worse, the ongoing series of “Robertson v. _____” cases continues. On May 2, a final decision was handed down in the case of “Robertson v. Proquest, Cedrom, Toronto Star Newspapers, Rogers and Canwest.” (This decision comes after a tentative settlement reached this January.) Heather Robertson and Kirk Baert of the firm Koskie […]
