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July 22, 2010: Loss of long form census hurts writers in the long run?
The Canadian Conference of the Arts has joined the chorus of statisticians, the not-for-profit sector and researchers of every stripe in condemning the move to eliminate the compulsory long-form census that one in five Canadian households have been asked to fill as befits a sound methodical approach in any developed society. While this move has broad negative implications for all Canadians, it may prove especially irksome to non-fiction writers in that accurate research will be impaired long into the future if the measure is passed in parliament. To learn more about the issue and consider supporting the protest against it, click here.
July 14, 2010: First PWAC Atlantic Region Workshop Huge Success
Organizers of "Communicating for Cash," a two-day series of professional development workshops for writers and other content creators in Atlantic Canada and beyond, are heralding it a huge success.
Professionals from Ontario and all four Atlantic provinces gathered in Sackville for workshops, networking and socializing, while others from across the country participated in two interactive online sessions. "Communicating for Cash" was organized by the Atlantic Region of the Professional Writers Association of Canada.
On Saturday morning, freelance writer, author and trainer Paul Lima kicked off the series with a marketing session. He stressed that freelance writers, and any independent practitioner, need a clear, focused business vision before they develop a marketing plan. Once they do that, he said, they should use traditional marketing tools - networking with friends and business associates; advertising and promotion; cold calling and mailing; and generating repeat business, testimonials, and referrals - in an organized, scheduled manner.
"They should also harness the power of the web," Lima said. "A website optimized for search engines is crucial; a business-focused blog is recommended. And if independent practitioners are going to blog, they should learn how to use social networking tools, such as LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and even YouTube."
Saturday afternoon, Lima presented a session on Search Engine Optimization while author and editor Marion Soubliere presented Getting Work with the Federal Government. It's something she said can be a mystery for many small business owners, however, it's not as difficult to get contract work with the Canadian government as most people think.
"The trick is knowing what you, the vendor, are supposed to do as part of the procurement process," Soubliere said. "The information is out there, but many business owners don't know where to find it. Plus, writing proposals to bid on government tenders is only one way to get government work. There are other less time-consuming ways, like getting on source lists and supplier databases, subcontracting to companies that already have government contracts, or getting contracts through temp agencies."
On Sunday, Johanna Bertin, author of Don Messer the Man Behind the Music, shared the research tools and techniques she developed and the interviewing skills she used to draw out the personal details that made the book such a rich, intimate portrait of the New Brunswick legend. Akoulina Connell, Goose Lane Editions managing editor, presented A Package with Punch: How to Make a Successful Non-fiction Submission to a publisher.
"Writing for a living necessitates keeping up on trends, styles and technological improvements," said Ross Mavis, PWAC regional director. "There is no better investment than taking pertinent and affordable workshops to keep your writing fresh and marketable. PWAC arranges these to help members and non members alike."
Fredericton-based Golden Coast International Inc. filmed Soubliere's government and Lima's marketing sessions and anyone who missed them can now go to www.pwacatlantic.ca to purchase access to the on-demand video archives. They will be available for viewing starting on July 15, 2010.
Along with the top-quality professional development and an abundance of networking opportunities and social activities, another highlight of the weekend, was the official establishment of PWAC Atlantic, a chapter of members spread throughout the region from Newfoundland to New Brunswick, and its website.
Sponsors of the event were the Canadian Freelance Union, the Quebec/Atlantic chapter of the Editors Association of Canada, the Moncton Area Freelance Writers and the South West New Brunswick chapter of PWAC. Other supporters were Golden Coast Incorporated/George Butters, Goose Lane Editions, Strong & Free, Jennifer Fiander & the Canadian Disability Resources Database, Marion Soubliere, Paul Lima, Johanna Bertin, Allison Finnamore, Ross Mavis, Carmel Vivier, Jennifer Power Scott and Trudy Kelly Forsythe.
For more information, contact:
Ross Mavis, (506) 763-2118 or info@pwacatlantic.ca
July 14, 2010: David Lewis Stein in The Toronto Star on Bill C-32 and Writers
In today's Toronto Star, David Lewis Stein discusses the recent coalition formed between with PWAC, The Writers Union of Canada (TWUC), the Playwrights Guild of Canada (PGC), the League of Canadian Poets (LCP), and the Literary Translators Association of Canada (LTAC).
On paper, this is certainly a formidable group. Organizations representing poets, fiction and non-fiction book writers, playwrights, translators and freelance journalists have announced they will join forces to protest amendments to the copyright bill. They fear these amendments, introduced in June just before Parliament adjourned, could be devastating to the writing trade.
...
With this new legislation much of the material in course packs could be used without payment to writers and publishers. The prospect is so exciting the Copyright Consortium of the Council of Ministers of Education, the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations and Canadian Library Association have all endorsed this expansion of "fair dealing."
But to writers, this "fair dealing" feels like expropriation of property. It feels like the government saying, "We are going to let people occupy rooms in your house and they won't have to pay any rent."
You can read Stein's opinion piece here.
July 09, 2010: Literary Translators Association of Canada Joins Writers Coalition on Copyright
We
are pleased to inform you that the Literary Translators Association of
Canada (LTAC) has joined with PWAC, The Writers Union of Canada (TWUC),
the Playwrights Guild of Canada (PGC) and the League of Canadian Poets
(LCP) in our coalition
around the need for changes to enshrine the right for compensation for
use within the proposed legislation to amend Canadian copyright law.
Through the summer and fall we will be working to develop a toolkit to
share with our collective memberships and other writers' organizations
to communicate with decision-makers on appropriate changes to the draft
bill.
July 09, 2010: Magazines Canada's Submission to the Government of Canada's Digital Economy Strategies Consultation
Magazines Canada has submitted "Building on Canadian Strengths: Canadian Magazines in the Digital Economy" to the Government of Canada as a part of the digital economy strategies consultation as announced in May 2010.
The submission, available on Magazines Canada's website, lists a number of recommendations for the Government to consider in developing strategies.
In addition to an eloquent comparison of the old Canada Magazine Fund (CMF) and Publications Assistance Program (PAP) funding models to the new Canada Periodical Fund (CPF) that points out the CPF's streamlined, more efficient and coherent model, Magazines Canada argues for the program's ongoing support from Parliament:
Today, the full budget of the CPF is on the books only until April 1, 2011. To meet the goals for which it was designed and launched just a few months ago, the fund requires a full budget committed for a four- to five-year term. The CPF is new and updated. Now it needs a budget commitment to make it work and get the best from it.
Magazines Canada recommends that, under the heading of "investments":
- The Minister of Heritage commit to a long-term budget (4-5 years) at current funding levels ($75.5 million) for the new Canada Periodical Fund.
- Key criteria for the CPF be reviewed each year to ensure the program continues to evolve to meet the challenges of the digital economy.
Another worthy inclusion is the recommendation that the Government maintains "the continuation of Canadian ownership and control regulations" and "the retention of the current foreign investment restrictions and advertising services regulations."
There remains a clear link between ownership and content in magazines in Canada. Most Canadian-owned titles produce high levels of original Canadian content while the vast majority of foreign magazines produce little or none.
Magazines Canada also "recommends that the Government of Canada pursues a period of thorough discussion of the implications of the specifics of the proposed copyright legislation before the legislation proceeds" and recognizes that "the consequences of failing to fairly compensate Canadian-content owners will lead to a decline in the production and then dissemination of home-grown content. Such a decline would have many negative consequences: the decline of Canadian cultural and business voices, and the loss of jobs and billions of dollars of economic activity."
Hear hear!
July 08, 2010: CJFE Collecting Information from Journalists who Covered the G20 Summit
Freedom of the press is an important right in Canada and something that PWAC values highly. As we wrote about recently in a post to PWAC's blog, PWAC is extremely disturbed by the events that unfolded in Toronto during the G-20 Summit on the weekend of June 26-27th.
One of PWAC's industry partners, Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE) has been collecting stories from members of the media, journalists, and freelance writers since the summit.
As
a result of the many stories and reports CJFE has heard from
journalists who were covering the G20, they are conducting a formal
survey of writers who believe their freedom of expression was
compromised by police/security personnel during the G-20 security
operation. This collection of information will result in a public
report by CJFE. The information and firsthand accounts from journalists
is critical to the report. CJFE are asking journalists who participated
to complete a survey to help us in this task.
If you know of
others who have similar complaints, please advise PWAC and CJFE as soon
as possible, or have them contact either group directly.
To access the survey, please go to the CFJE website:
http://www.cjfe.org/releases/2010/30062010g20survey.html
Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE) boldly
champions the free expression rights of journalists and media workers
around the world. In Canada, CJFE monitors, defends and promotes free
expression and access to information. CJFE encourages and supports
individuals and groups to be vigilant in the protection of their own
and others' free expression rights. CJFE is an active participant and builder of the global free expression community.
For more information, contact CJFE Manager Julie Payne at (416) 515-9622 ext. 226.
July 05, 2010: PWAC, TWUC, PGC and LCP Speak as One on Copyright Reform
The four leading professional organizations representing Canadian writers have formed a coalition to ensure that our right to be compensated for our work is enshrined in the proposed legislation to reform Canadian copyright law. We will be working together to engage our members to support appropriate amendments to C-32, the draft bill given first reading in parliament on June 2nd.The Professional Writers Association of Canada (PWAC), The Writers Union of Canada (TWUC), the Playwrights Guild of Canada (PGC) and the League of Canadian Poets (LCP) will work together through the summer and fall to advise politicians and civil servants on required changes to the bill as written. Our main concerns are with the broad exception for education and the threat to our moral and economic rights posed by other technical aspects of the draft bill. We will be sending a "tool-kit" to all our members to help you weigh in.
The four associations represent over 4,000 professional writers. We are grateful for Heritage Minister Moore's willingness to consider amendments and we look forward to debating the issues on behalf of writers in Canada.
July 05, 2010: Online Cretins Abound on C-32
Erstwhile PWAC Executive Director John Degen is a formidable online champion for artists' right to compensation. He has a keen understanding of the ins and outs of copyright law at home and abroad and many PWAC members will be aware of his support for the rights of writers.
John has engaged in honest debate on his own blog,
http://johndegen.blogspot.com/, and elsewhere online where communities of interest have formed to put forward their perspectives on the need for reform of our copyright law. His membership in the York Region Chapter of "Fair Copyright for Canada," a group founded by Michael Geist, has been revoked.
The flames are licking higher, here, folks...
July 02, 2010: PWAC Responds to Injustices Experienced by Members of the Media, Journalists, and Freelance Writers During the G20 in Toronto
The Professional Writers Association of Canada (PWAC) is extremely disturbed by the events that unfolded in Toronto during the G-20 Summit on the weekend of June 26-27th. While we feel it is beyond our scope and knowledge to comment on the detailed circumstances of all of the conflicts between police and protesters, we do want to highlight the injustices the occurred involving members of the media, journalists, and freelance writers.
We back the call by the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, amongst others, calling for an independent, public inquiry into the security surrounding the G20.
Two PWAC Toronto members, Jesse Ship and Nate Hendley (also PWAC's Ontario Regional Director) were caught up in the events on the weekend. You can read Jesse's account here and Nate's here.
In particular, PWAC is concerned about:
- Media credentials being ignored by police/G20 security, and members of the media facing detention. Read citynews.ca's Michael Talbot's account here.
- Members of the media who experiences threats of violence, including rape, while detained. Journalist Amy Miller was told during her detention "I was told I was going to be raped. I was told I was going to be gangbanged. I was told I was never going to want to act as a journalist again by making sure that I would be repeatedly raped while I was in jail."
- Ongoing search and seizure of media equipment.
- Detention of members of the media (and others, whether protesters or observers) without access to a lawyer, a phone call, privacy, or adequate food and water. This was the largest mass arrest in Canadian history.
Four journalists have sought legal assistance to date and have filed complaints with the Office of the Independent Police Review Director.
Freedom of the press is an important right in Canada and something that PWAC values highly. Our recent experience supporting the campaign to free award winning Tamil editor/journalist Joseph S. Tissainayagam who was imprisoned by the Sri Lankan government for writing articles critical of their actions is but one example of our beliefs. This call for an investigation into the events of the G20 weekend is another.
PWAC President Tanya Gulliver
July 01, 2010: PWAC Leads the Way in Defending Press Freedom
PWAC is pleased to provide an update to the Free Tissa campaign we endorsed and supported in the fall of 2009. PWAC Toronto member Steve Pitt provides an update below on the campaign to free award winning Tamil editor/journalist Joseph S. Tissainayagam.
In September 2009, a court in Sri Lanka sentenced award winning Tamil editor/journalist Joseph S. Tissainayagam to twenty years hard labour for writing articles critical of the Sri Lankan government. As a Canadian journalist married to a Tamil Canadian, I felt it was my duty to lobby on Mr. Tissainayagam's behalf. With the support of a couple of tech wiz-kids we set up a website called the Free Tissa campaign http://www.freetissa.com/. I then began the humbling task of calling on Canadian journalists to speak out on behalf of a fellow journalist of whom they had never met or likely even heard. It was slow going at first. I found that most Canadian writing organizations are reluctant to get involved in political issues. I do not know why, perhaps they fear for their reputations and possibly even their government funding.
In contrast, within a week, the Professional Writers Association of Canada (PWAC) alone responded almost immediately to my request for support for Mr. Tissainayagam. This tipped the scale and writing organizations, human rights advocates and individual writers including even Noam Chomsky lent their names to our supporter's list. Bowing to world pressure, on May 3, 2010, to mark World Press Freedom Day, Joseph Tissainayagam was pardoned by the Sri Lankan president. On June 19th, Tissainayagam arrived safely in the United States with his wife. The Free Tissa campaign was just one among many human rights groups that took up this cause so I won't attempt to take credit for Mr. Tissainayagam's release. But we were one of the first, and PWAC was our first and strongest supporter. I thank PWAC in general and in particular its president, Tanya Gulliver, who expedited PWAC's timely support. I'm sure we helped make a difference along with all the other human rights organizations.
On a postscript, free speech still continues to be heavily suppressed in Sri Lanka. On an almost daily basis journalists continue to be verbally harassed and physically attacked, kidnapped and even killed with impunity by paramilitary forces. Reporters Without Borders still rates Sri Lanka as the 162nd worst out of 175 for press freedom. We, who live in Canada (which is rated 18th) often take our relative freedoms for granted.
PWAC Member Steve Pitt
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