Australian Freelance Journo of the Year 2017

Apply now for the Walkley Award for Best Freelance Journalist for 2017.

This MEAA Walkley Award recognises “the unique contribution that freelance journalists make across all media platforms to the future of the industry.”

Open to residents of either Australia or New Zealand.

The winner will receive a full pass to the Walkley’s Storyology Summit and two tickets to the Walkley Awards Gala Dinner.

Previous winners include Yaara Bou Melhem, Andrew Quilty, Debra Jopson, Fiona Harari and Dave Tacon.

Entries open till April 26.

Apply online: http://bit.ly/freelanceaward

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MEAA Freelance Focus Conference – Brisbane Aug 5 2015

FREELANCE FOCUS – LAST CHANCE FOR EARLYBIRD PRICES

IF you’re heading to the MEAA Freelance conference — Earlybird prices end tomorrow

Brisbane, AUGUST (Conference August 5 plus practical workshops August 4 & 6)

The earlybird rate ends this Friday –  you can save over $100 on festival tickets.

Don’t miss this chance to explore the opportunities of the industry, inspirational talks and practically-focused sessions.
A stellar lineup features Trent Dalton, Michelle Law, Matt Condon, John Birmingham, Rebecca Sparrow, and more.
Earlybird ticket sales and scholarship entries end July 10: http://bit.ly/1MMxdWc

Congratulations 2015 Freelancer of The Year finalists

FREELANCE JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR FINALISTS

Congratulations to the three top Australian freelancers selected as finalists in the 2015 Walkley Award for Best Freelance Journalist of the Year.

Fiona Harari, Andrew Quilty and William Verity.

The overall winner will be announced in Sydney on July 29.

More details: http://bit.ly/1Gbm4v5

This year’s awards attracted more than 60 top-quality entries, showing that freelance journalism in Australia is alive and kicking!

Australian Freelance Journo of the Year 2015

Apply now for the Walkley Award for Best Freelance Journalist of the Year 2015

This MEAA Walkley Award recognises “the unique contribution that freelance journalists make across all media platforms to the future of the industry.”

Open to residents of either Australia or New Zealand.

The winner will receive $3,000 in prize money, a full pass to the Walkley’s Storyology Summit and two tickets to the Walkley Awards Gala Dinner.

Entries are now open.

Apply online: http://bit.ly/freelanceaward

FREELANCE JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR AWARD 2014 – Entries open now

The Walkley Award for Best Freelance Journalist of the Year 2014 is presented by the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance, with prize including $3,000 in prize money, a full pass to the Walkley’s Storyology Summit and two tickets to the Walkley Awards Gala Dinner.

Entries open Monday May 19, 2014, and close at 5.00pm, Monday June 16, 2014.

To qualify for the award, you must be an Australian citizen resident regularly engaged as a freelance journalist/photographer in any medium. Work submitted for entry must have been published, produced or broadcast in either Australia or New Zealand.

Entries are judged on a work or a body of work (up to five pieces) published or broadcast between June 4, 2013 and June 16, 2014. Judges consider resources available and effort expended as well as newsworthiness; research; writing; production; incisiveness; impact; public benefit; ethics; originality; innovation; and creative flair.

Three finalists will be announced on Monday June 30, 2014 and the winner announced on Thursday July 24, 2014 at an event in Sydney. All entrants will receive an invitation to attend the announcement.

Entry costs is free for MEAA and EPMU members, and $295 including GST for non-members.

Application forms should be completed online here, and a 200-word entry statement explaining your entry must be included with the submission:
http://walkleys.com/awards/freelancer-of-the-year/freelance-journalist-year-application/

Freelance Pro launch

Interested freelancers are invited to attend the launch of ‘Freelance Pro’ in Sydney next week.
When:   Mon 25 March, 12:30 for 1pm
Where:  Glover Cottages, 124 Kent St, Sydney

The Alliance is launching its ‘professional grade’ membership which includes insurance and an accreditation based on attending Alliance legal and ethics training.

Malcolm Turner, Tracey Spicer and blogger Greg Jericho speaking.

RSVPs to go to marcus.strom@alliance.org.au

Happy Monday

Meeting of freelancers who write for Pacific Publications

Pacific Magazines, a major local publisher in the Seven stable which publishes titles including New Idea, marie claire and Better Homes and Gardens, has issued a new contributor contract for freelancers requiring they sign away all future rights including online. The company is also seeking to strip legal protections from writers with an indemnity clause shifting liability from Pacific Magazines to freelancers should there be legal action arising from a freelance contribution.

The MEAA strongly advises all freelancers NOT to sign the contract- note the Alliance is currently in negotiations with Pacific Magazines management for a new agreement for permanent staff.

The Alliance is convening urgent meetings for freelance writers (members or non-members welcome) in Sydney and Melbourne to discuss the Pacific Magazines contract.

Just turn up – or for more info – contact Alliance organiser Claire O’Rourke at claire.orourke@alliance.org.au or 02 9333 0935.

Meetings:

Sydney: Thursday, February 11, 6pm, Alliance office cnr Chalmers and Redfern streets, Redfern. RSVP to claire.orourke@alliance.org.au

Melbourne: Wednesday, February 17, 6.30pm Melbourne Central Lion Hotel, Lvl 3, Melbourne Central Adjacent to the Hoyts cinema box office . RSVP to mike.dobbie@alliance.org.au

First step taken against Fairfax freelance contract

It is good that the MEAA has finally taken the first step to change the standard Fairfax freelance contract.

The standard Fairfax freelance contract, which has been in place for three years, is viewed by many freelancers as particularly unfair. For example, if Fairfax publish three pieces of work by a freelancer within a six month period then that freelancer is forbidden to have work published by any other major newspaper or magazine and Fairfax are not required to provide any further work. In other words, for the sake of work worth $3000 at the very most a freelancer is prevented from earning a living. Other clauses relating to licenses allowing Fairfax to use freelancers’ work for no extra compensation are also of concern.

While the Fairfax contract is particularly harsh, it is nonetheless symptomatic of increasingly poor working conditions for freelancers industry wide.

By approaching the ACCC in late December 2009, the union will learn whether it can represent freelancers like it represents journalists who are employees. If it can, then there is no reason why the union can’t begin a bargaining process where Fairfax management will have to come to the negotiating table.

The Sydney Freelance Journalists Group will report whether the union can represent us effectively in this important issue when the ACCC’s decision is made sometime next year.