Archive for January, 2012
Nine soon-to-be unpaid writers leave HuffPost Quebec before it launches
We bet that most everyone who writes for the Huffington Post for free doubts whether they should. Story Board readers have heard about that straight from a former HuffPost Canada writer. At least nine writers who were to begin writing for Huffington Post Quebec after its Feb. 8 launch have considered the pros and cons […]
Off the Wire: News for the Canadian media freelancer Jan. 24–30, 2012
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: CBC dismantling LP, CD archives [Globe and Mail] (via @JacqValencia) Chantal Hébert: Twitter is not a window to the world — it’s a mirror […]
Despite delays, a best practices guide for the Canadian magazine industry is on its way
There are some things that are right about the magazine industry in Canada and some things that need changing. With that in mind, and with what appears to be a goal to establish shared standards, three groups—the Professional Writers Association of Canada, Magazines Canada, and the Canadian Society of Magazine Editors—have been working together on […]
Smart on the page, smart on the screen—smart for the writers?
According to this recent Postmedia News article, it’s getting harder to fund documentaries in Canada. So the kind of partnership The Walrus and High Fidelity HDTV have announced—making documentaries “inspired” by Walrus stories and broadcasting them on High Fidelity’s eqhd channel and on WalrusTV—might be what the industry needs to continue putting our non-fiction stories […]
Got a story about editorial independence (or lack thereof)?
We’re glad to share this call for stories about advertisers’ influence in newsrooms at magazines and newspapers. It comes from journalist Micah Luxen, who last year quit her job at the Kelowna Daily Courier, where, she says, advertisers had too much sway over editorial content. She’s collecting stories to share during a panel discussion at […]
A room of your own: The Born Freelancer on the merits of out-of-home offices
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. The recent poss.ca article on the benefits of working at home, already recommended on this blog, is excellent. If you haven’t looked at […]
Secrets worth sharing: Tips and tricks from three successful Canadian freelancers
As part of its ongoing Professional Development series, PWAC Toronto hosted an event entitled “Secrets of Freelancing Success.” Its panel of experienced freelance writers shared—if not secrets, exactly—a boatload of valuable advice. This latest edition in PWAC’s series, which we’ve covered before, really packed ’em in at the Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre (the event […]
Masters of our (public) domain
A post by Michael Geist on his blog this week is spreading online and spurring debate about Canada’s public domain and who, exactly, benefits from it. Currently, works enter the public domain in Canada 50 years after the death of the author, which is less than in many European countries and in the U.S., where […]
Working from home, a survival guide
Being a freelancer means working from home, in between stints at coffee shops or the odd brief occupation of a client’s office. For many who’ve never tried it, working from home sounds like a breeze—a dream, even. Imagine: tapping away on a laptop in your comfiest clothes or blasting your favourite tunes with abandon or […]
Survey on freelance business journalism raises more questions than it answers
Are journalists who write about money making more of it than they used to? According to a recent survey, the answer is: maybe? The Society of American Business Writers and Editors has conducted its second annual survey of freelance business journalists in the U.S., and the results tell us….well, not much. The online survey asked […]
