Freelance Cafe West, Gigs

Oaklandlocal.com call for bloggers, writers, and multimedia producers

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Hey folks. Oaklandlocal.com, a new project run by some of FC’s members, went live yesterday and they’re looking for content. See the details below (and attached writer guidelines). Seems like a great opportunity! Best, Mia

*Journalists, bloggers and multimedia producers wanted* *

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Oaklandlocal.com, Oakland’s new hyperlocal news site and community portal is looking for story pitches. We’re a progressive grassroots media outlet that offers a platform for community dialogue while framing and contextualizing important but often overlooked stories in Oakland.

Our site is broken down into 5 main topic areas: Environment, Development, Food Justice, Identity and Arts & Education. Stories should fit one of these categories and pitches should clearly detail which topic your piece will fall under.

We currently have content partnerships with several local organization including the Center for Investigative Reporting ,New American Media http://news.newamericamedia.org/news/ /Youth Outlook , Youth Radio http://www.youthradio.org/and Youth Uprising. We’re looking for freelancers to round out our content.

*Bloggers:*

If you are a blogger who lives or works in Oakland and/or writes about Oakland topics and would like to blog for us, or have us cross-post your current blog, we’d love to talk to you.

We’re a new site but we’ve already received loads of attention and a blogging arrangement could definitely help promote you and your writing. We also have ad trades available.

*PLEASE NOTE:* We do not offer payment for blog posts

*Journalists, reporters, and multimedia producers:*

Oakland Local runs beat reporting, investigative reports, features and story packages on issues important to Oakland and items that catch our interest. We run original writing, photography, web video and multimedia.

Pitches should provide an overview of your story, your story angle, a couple of ideas for interviews, a time line for completion and a couple of samples of previous work.

*Payment*

Yes we do pay! In most cases Oakland Local pays for original stories; our fees, while small, are sadly, competitive with the rest of the industry. We are a brand new news and community nonprofit, right now our rates reflect that, but we do go for great ideas.

But don’t let funds stand in the way of pitching us (unless you’re looking for big, big bucks). We are partnering with other orgs to raise money for larger, more involved stories. So if you’ve got a great idea let’s talk about it.

Food and Development pitches go to Susan Mernit susan at oaklandlocal.com

Environment can be directed to Amy Gahran amy at oaklandlocal.com

Identity and Arts pieces can go toKwan Booth kwan at oaklandlocal.com

Guidelines are attached, you can read more on our site at http://oaklandlocal.com/content/submission-guidelines and you can also Dowload the full editorial guidelines

Please take a look around the site to familiarize yourself with our content before pitching. It’s also a good idea to check out the work on some of our content partner sites to get a feel for the kinds of stories we’re looking for.

Thanks, and we’re looking forward to hearing from you!

The Oakland Local Team

pdf iconwritersguidelines.pdf

Musings, Print

a question for print freelancers

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Hey folks. This is from a colleague of mine in Philly. If any of you print folks have a minute to drop her a line, I would really appreciate it! Thx, Mia

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Hello print freelancers!

I have a favor to ask–I am a student in a master’s program at the J School at Temple University and am currently taking my Comm Law requirement. For one of my assignments I am reviewing and analyzing a freelance copyright case from 2001 (New York Times v. Tasini). I am looking to talk to someone who has an opinion about the impact of the Court’s decision–whether good or bad–and has been affected by the decision.

In short, believe it or not, Wikipedia sums the decision up pretty well: ” New York Times Co. v. Tasini , is a leading decision by the United States Supreme Court on the issue of copyright in the contents of a newspaper database. It held that The New York Times , in licensing back issues of the newspaper for inclusion in electronic databases such as LexisNexis, could not license the works of free-lance journalists contained in the newspapers.”

I’d be happy to talk to someone by e-mail or phone. My assignment is due next week, so if you’re interested, please contact me by next Tuesday, October 27, at the latest.

Thank you!

Tori Indivero
tori.indivero@gmail.com
610.316.0745

Events, Freelance Cafe West

East Bay Bloggers Camp Oct. 23-24

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Looks like a great workshop, and it’s totally affordable. -Mia

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The Knight Digital Media Center at UC Berkeley is collaborating with the Public Media Collaborative in sponsoring a two-day digital media workshop. The KDMC will lead three hands-on training sessions during the East Bay BEAST Bloggers Camp 2 that will be held Oct 23-24, at Techliminal http://techliminal.com/ technology salon in downtown Oakland.

The workshops will offer training on social media, multimedia and technology tools for new and experienced bloggers. Staff trainers with the KDMC will provide skills training on Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Soundslides and Google tools on Saturday, Oct. 24.

For more information, click on the following link http://bit.ly/1LkHJ4.

We hope to see you there!

Audio/Radio, Events, Freelance Cafe West

Kitchen Sisters workshops October 29 and November 5, SF

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My favorite lady of radio is hosting another training workshop. If radio is your thing you don’t want to miss it. -Mia

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Davia Nelson of The Kitchen Sisters is conducting two basic recording and interviewing workshops in San Francisco. Thursday, October 29 and Thursday, November 5 from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM. The three hour workshop is for people who want to acquire and hone their skills for an array of projects–radio, online storytelling, oral histories, audio slide shows, family histories, and other multimedia endeavors.
We will cover miking techniques, sound gathering, use of archival audio, how to make interviewees comfortable, how to frame evocative questions that make for compelling storytelling, how to listen (which is harder than it looks), how to use interviews in conjunction with images, field recording techniques, recording equipment and more. The workshops are customized to fit the projects you are working on.
People who attend come from radio, newspapers, photography, oral history, historical societies, farms, music, writing, libraries, web design and beyond. The groups are always lively and good contacts are made.
The fee is $115. Of course, there will be a snack. The workshops are held in Francis Coppola’s historic Zoetrope building in North Beach.

If you, or someone you know is interested, email kitchen@kitchensisters.org and let us know which of the two workshops you would like to attend.

See you there,

The Kitchen Sisters

Freelance Cafe West, Gigs

Multimedia Producer / Storyteller NEEDED!

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One of our own is hiring for his new show. Check it out. -Mia

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Snap Judgment is hiring, please spread the word . . .

Snap Judgment is a brand new, smoking hot, nationally-aired radio / television show funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Join us for the launch of a bold new style of storytelling.

Hosted by Glynn Washington, winner of the Public Radio Talent Quest, the show is a multi-platform experience that interacts with audiences through radio, TV, internet, and the upcoming Snap Judgment Stageshow. Snap Judgment’s edgy, intimate, hip storytelling redefines expectations for public media.

The show sits on the razor’s edge of culture, race, gender, and sexuality. Snap Judgment has an urban sensibility, routinely crossing cultures in the blink of an eye. Applicants must be comfortable in dealing with people from a variety of backgrounds that may not have traditionally had voice on public media. Announcement

Job Description

1) Quite simply, we are looking for an amazing someone. The skills required for the undertaking are vast, and this is only a short list. (This is a full time position based in Oakland, California.)

2) Most importantly, be able to work with host Glynn Washington and the Snap Judgment crew to create compelling storytelling across a variety of media – radio, video, theater. . .

3) Story first. Story first. Story first. We will test applicants on their ability to tell a story. Quickly.

4) Of equal importance is technical proficiency across a spectrum of media including audio, video, and possibly theater. Creative and musical use of sound is extremely important, as every single episode of the radio program is constructed with the care of a music album.

5) Project management skills an absolute must. Must be able to effortlessly juggle many conflicting duties with rigorous deadlines.

6) Interview both regular people and irregular artists and construct their stories into compelling narratives.

7) Manage web strategy, including copy editing, Facebook / Twitter updating, podcast creation, newsletter creation, etc.

8) Proactively get / create / rob / write / interview compelling stories.

9) Grunt work. Absolutely anything and everything that needs to get done.

Qualifications

  • Rigorous Storytelling Background. This could mean an MFA program, independent filmmaker, radio producer, several years writing for a children’s show, audio artist, speechwriter, novelist, animator, theater producer, newspaper reporter, fiction editor, etc . . .
  • Used to working in a Mac environment. Familiarity with Logic, Final Cut Pro, ProTools, Soundtrack Pro, etc. You need to be able to build broadcast-quality stories.
  • No Drama. Proven ability to work well in a collaborative team environment as well as independently. Absolutely NO DRAMA.
  • Resourceful. Used to making the magic happen routinely on an absolute shoestring. We are looking for the “MacGyver” of radio / filmmaking.

    To Apply

    Before applying, please go to SnapJudgment.org and listen to the full hour long episode, “Magic Doors”.

    Also, please see the short short Snap Judgment film, “Nobody’s Punk” at:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gAlQRgF8wI

    Please send a cover letter, resume, salary requirements, and links to 2 – 3 projects for which you had primary responsibility to Jobs@SnapJudgmentRadio.org. E-mail ONLY please!

    The deadline for applications is 11 / 13 / 2009. Women and minorities strongly encouraged to apply.

    Peace and soul! We can’t WAIT to hear from you . . .

    • Musings

    self-employment disability insurance

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    There are only two things I miss about working in a regular office job (besides regular interaction with the rest of the working world, of course).

    1) IT – Tech Support. I can’t even count the number of hours I’ve spent tearing my hair out over some computer problem that an IT department could fix in minutes. Or how many hours I’ve spent on the phone with obnoxious “help” desks that are horribly misnamed. My own personal IT department is number one on my freelance wish list.

    2) HR. Granted, HR departments can be a big pain in the ass, but generally, they help you get paid, on time, and work out all those little details like taxes, benefits, vacation time, and personal/medical leave. I had a baby last May, and I just assumed that because I work for myself, I wasn’t entitled to any kind of maternity or other medical benefits, even though I pay hefty self-employment taxes. Turns out freelancers do qualify for maternity benefits under the Paid Family Leave program (part of State Disability). Only hitch is that you have to pay for related but separate California’s Disability Insurance Elective Coverage. (Essentially, you pay in a certain percentage based on what you make, and if you go on leave, you get back a certain percentage of what you would be making if you were working. The rates are pretty reasonable and the benefit certainly seems worth it.)

    I have no idea how I was supposed to know this. It’s not like I could sit down and have a meeting with myself about the benefits available to me as a freelancer. I suppose when I became self-employed I should have done more research about what was available to me and what wasn’t. But mostly I was just trying to get PAID (and keep my equipment running.)

    Now I know. And hopefully someone else can benefit from my lack of foresight.

    http://www.edd.ca.gov/Disability/Self-Employed.htm

    Musings

    how may I help you?

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    I’m trying to figure out how this site can best serve freelancers. My original idea was to create a go-to place for people looking for freelancers in various fields. They could come to the site, scroll through the links on the right, find the freelancer that best meets their needs, and contact the freelancer directly.

    The other option is to make this site an overall resource for freelancers – using the lists on the right to link to resources for each field – how to sites, pitching and pricing guidelines, funding and awards opportunities, legal advice, inspiration, etc.

    mediabistro.com and others are already doing this, though you definitely have to do a bit of searching to find the information you’re looking for. I would like this site to be more straightforward.

    Ultimately, I would love to include both links to freelancers and links for freelancers, but I fear that would be too much information for one page.

    Thoughts?

    Events, Freelance Cafe West

    CPA workshop

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    We had our first official workshop Tuesday night – a tax presentation and Q & A with freelance CPA Jason Stallcup. It wasn’t a huge crowd – about 15 people – but I have to say I’m thrilled with how it went. Jason did a fantastic job of presenting tax information in an interesting, informative, and accessible way. The workshop attendees were totally engaged, asking lots of questions. And the location – Sandbox Suites (owned and run by another freelancer on the list) was perfect. But most importantly it was an example of the Freelance Cafe group working. It was a presentation for freelancers, by a freelancer, hosted at a co-working space owned by a freelancer. Love it. I hope this will be the first of many events like this one.

    And if you need help with your taxes – call Jason!

    Jason Stallcup, CPA
    415-215-0639.
    jason@jasoncpa.com

    Also, if you’re looking for a workspace, check these guys out.

    Sandbox Suites
    123 10th Street, SF
    info@sandboxsuites.com
    p: 415-659-8197