"Fed-up and not going to take it any more," freelance journalists all over Canada are in an uproar over the contract they have been asked to sign with CanWest MediaWorks.
A general discussion of the issue has been called for 3 p.m. Saturday, January 26, at 20 Queen Elizabeth Drive, Ottawa.
A copy of the contract in question, and the response one writers' group can be seen on the URL http://www.travelmedia.ca/r_canwest.shtml.
Also protesting are Professional Writers of Canada (PWAC), Canadian Association of Journalist (CAJ) and the Canadian Freelance Union (CFU) members.
Discussions by the executive of the Media Club of Ottawa have culminated in action by World Media Institute executive Wayne Kines, who has secured the meeting room at his condo for a:
Special Meeting of Media Club Members and all concerned writers.
SATURDAY, JANUARY 26 at 3 p.m.
20 Queen Elizabeth Driveway
(between McLaren and Somerset West)
Buzz 107 for the Meeting Room aka Party Room
Watch for directional signs
No need to RSVP. Just come!
Notes from photo-journalist Shannon Lee Mannion, chair if the Freelance Policy Committee of the Canadian Association of Journalists who was asked to sign the contract:
"The covering letter sent to Ottawa Citizen writers stipulates that unless contributors signed by December 31/07, they would not be paid for their articles. Many have refused. Freelancers who sign such a contract no longer own their work after it has been published by CanWest MediaWorks and therefore have no opportunity to re-sell it. (If a freelance writer wanted to compile his articles into a book, under the contract, this would not be allowed. This new contract does not allow additional pay for articles reprinted throughout the chain and there is no remuneration for electronic rights. This runs counter to a newly proposed Federal bill, C-60. We have been looking into systemic problems in our print media. Radio and TV fare better because there is the CRTC to adjudicate; we need to do something about safeguarding print."
Rosaleen Dickson has been asked to moderate the meeting on Saturday.
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