Yes, we are worthy: making it in the freelance world

September 06, 2013 Editor Event compensationeventfreelance life

Hey you lucky, lucky Toronto freelancers, there's another great event coming up for you in September.

Yes, we are worthy: making it in the freelance world will be an evening of discussion with bestselling author Ann Douglas (writer of the popular Story Board post "Why I Am No Longer Writing The Column I Loved for The Toronto Star") and Nicole Cohen, an assistant professor and researcher of cultural work and media labour.

The event is scheduled for Tuesday, 24 September 2013 from 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM at Hart House on the U of T campus. It's co-sponsored by the Canadian Media Guild, Cultural Workers Organize and the Canadian Writers Group.

Discussion topics will range from compensation to finding freelance opportunities to the benefits of finding a freelance network.

Refreshments will be served and tickets are free. But space is limited, so register here if you'd like to attend.

Freelancers outside of Toronto: don't despair. We'll post highlights from the event here on Story Board soon afterwards.

Canadian Intern Association holds first Vancouver meeting

August 28, 2013 Editor Event canadian intern associationcompensationeventgetting paidinternships

The Canadian Intern Association is holding its first Vancouver meeting tonight at the Firehall Branch of the public library.The Association was founded last year by University of Ottawa law student Claire Seaborn, who noticed a dearth of advocacy groups to address the growing problem of illegal unpaid internships. Over the past year, the group…

Toronto Freelance Survival seminar set for September 25

August 21, 2013 Editor Event cmgeventfreelance survival series

Freelancers in Toronto and surrounding areas take note: there's a day-long seminar approaching that's designed to help you make the most of your skills and talents.The Freelance Survival Series is scheduled for Wednesday September 25th from 9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. in the auditorium of the Lillian H. Smith Public Library in Toronto. The event,…

Digital Media Mixer in Liberty Village

June 05, 2013 Editor Event cmgeventmediatech commons

Torontonians who work in digital media are invited to an event at the Brazen Head Pub on Wednesday, June 19th from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. The event is being put on by MediaTech Commons, a CMG-run community for Canadians working in digital media.A talk by Mandy Gilbert, founder and CEO of Creative Niche -- a recruiter for major advertising, digital and…

Content farms and the decline of long form

April 24, 2013 Editor Event content farmseventslong formnicole cohen

by H.G. Watson Want to get hits on your website? Easy. Just feature a list. “Here are the Best Dumb Things Ryan Lochte Said on His Reality Show,” or “10 Reasons Duke the Corgi Has the Potential To Be One of America’s Next Top Corgis” are actual articles you can find on the sites Gawker and BuzzFeed, respectively, right now.It’s…

Writing Our Stories: The Experiences of Women and Queer Journalists

April 09, 2013 Editor Event cupcwaeventsqueer journalistswomen journalists

By Ljudmila Petrovic and Angela Espinoza[caption id="attachment_6316" align="alignright" width="325"] photo by Angela Espinoza[/caption]On April 3, the Canadian University Press and CWA joined forces to organize a panel discussion in Vancouver to explore the experiences of queer and women journalists. The speakers• Tina House, a video…

From the Toronto Star to Transcon…freelancers unite!

February 27, 2013 Editor Event ann douglaseventsfreelance contractstoronto startranscontinental mediatrouble spots

Yesterday, magazine writer and author Ann Douglas wrote a post for Story Board explaining why she quit her column for the Toronto Star. The tremendous response to her post – in the blog comments, on Facebook and on Twitter – proves how fed up freelancers are with the unfair contracts being imposed by publishers. Yes, publishers are struggling…

Massey College Press Club to host discussion on Idle No More

January 18, 2013 Editor Event eventidle no moremassey college press club

The Massey College Press Club has organized a last-minute event for Tuesday January 22nd called Reporting from Attawapiskat: Idle No More and Journalism in Canada.The Press Club promises "a vibrant discussion of Canadian reporting on First Nations issues and the Idle No More movement." Conversation between Anishinaabe professor of…

Mayworks Festival of Working People and the Arts: Recognition where it is overdue

December 10, 2012 Editor Event awardseventmayworks

by Haseena ManekWhose are the stories we rarely hear? Who do we owe but never praise? The marginalized and the oppressed. The Mayworks Festival of Working People and the Arts was built on the premise that workers and artists share a common struggle for social justice.[caption id="attachment_5125" align="alignright" width="300"] Award recipients,…

Taking the “free” out of freelancing

November 30, 2012 Editor Event cmgcompensationcontractscupeventfreelance lifestylegetting paid

by Suzanne BownessHow many people here are thinking about going the freelance route at some point in your writing careers? My first question is met with a few raised hands, maybe a third of the room.I’m speaking on a panel called “Taking the ‘free’ out of freelancing,” organized by CWA Canada and Canadian University Press (and hosted by…