I am working with a group of New York City producers (our group is under the working title of 'Radio Guild')  to explore the status of independent audio/radio work, in terms of compensation. Our ultimate goal is to set standards that reflect the amount of work that's actually done and get stations, outlets and shows to agree. To that end, our first step is to put out a survey to determine how much time independents put into their work, and what they're currently getting paid for that time. This will allow us to come up with a realistic schedule for rates that can uniformly be used when approaching stations and PRX (while we're fans of PRX and love to get our work aired, selling stories for $3 undercuts independent's ability to make a living).

You can access the survey at the following link:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/RadioGuild_FREELANCE_PRODUCER_SURVEY

Thanks!

Event: Writing Business News for the Web

Where: Online
When: Dec. 1-2, noon or 4 p.m. EST

The Donald W. Reynolds National Center for Business Journalism is
hosting a free business journalism Webinar titled, "Writing Business
News for the Web." Presented by Jacqui Banaszynski, Pulitzer winner
and Knight Chair in Editing at the Missouri School of Journalism. For
more information, log onto:

http://businessjournalism.org/2010/05/27/writing-business-news-for-the-web-online-dec-1-2/

The Association of Independents in Radio, Inc. is pleased to announce the New Voices $20,000 scholarship fund to support minority producers – both independent and station-based – interested in attending Third Coast International Audio Festival's 2010 conference in Chicago, IL October 28-30. Funding for this program comes from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) and the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA).

The Third Coast Conference attracts a broad, international group of bright, inventive producers. AIR will kick off the conference with a producers’ meeting convened on Thursday, October 28, 3-4:30 pm. AIR members, as well as those wanting to learn more about AIR, are encouraged to attend.

The goal of the New Voices scholarship is to help broaden the pipeline for a new generation of diverse media talent and to provide support for bright program makers. Applicants will be asked to submit a brief statement outlining ideas for how the public radio system can provide more channels of opportunity for new talent trying to find a way into public media. A panel will be convened to review applications, and final decisions will be announced by September 21st. Those who have never attended a Third Coast Conference are particularly encouraged to apply.

Individual scholarships of up to $1500 per person will be awarded and must be used to offset costs associated with Third Coast transportation, meals, hotel, and registration. The registration cost for Third Coast is $395, or $345 if submitted by the early bird deadline of September 15, 2010.

To apply for a New Voices scholarship, please complete an on-line application:
http://airmedia.org/PageInfo.php?PageID=601

+++Applications must be received by 5:00 pm Pacific Time Wednesday, September 16, 2010.+++

If you have any questions about AIR’s New Voices scholarship, please review our FAQ ( http://www.airmedia.org/PageInfo.php?PageID=602 ) or contact Erin Mishkin at erin@airmedia.org.

+++ AIR is everywhere. +++
www.airmedia.org

Funding for AIR comes from our members and the generous support of the
Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA), the Robert E. Davoli and Eileen McDonagh Charitable Foundation, Recovery.gov, and the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), which believes that a great nation deserves great art.

Hey there New York Producers,

A reminder that the second New York area meeting for those of you who have done or plan to do any kind of freelance work is TONIGHT. If you produce any kind of freelance work this is something you should attend.

Tues., Sept. 7, 6:30
Maximo Pino Cafe
6th Ave @ 13th Street

We'll be getting together to discuss the basic needs of freelancers. Working on developing a criteria for pay scale and other issues that works for us and reflects the amount of work that we actually put in to our pieces.

We need everyone to come to the meeting to give input and work together on the issues.

Please RSVP to:

Sally Herships
Sally@sohosally.com

Looking forward to seeing you!

Sally Herships
Laura Friedman

Dear Friends,

Guild Freelancers is close to securing group health insurance. In
order to meet the letter of the law, we need to adopt an eligibility
process that offers concrete proof that we do not, as an organization,
exist only to provide health coverage for anyone who walks in the door
and pays dues.

With that in mind, we’ve crafted a provision for a two-tier
membership, one of which requires a track record in journalism and
qualifies the member for health coverage.

Please read our proposal carefully and offer all the comments,
questions, and objections that cross your mind. The deadline for
comment is Sept. 10. We will meet as a unit to ratify the plan Sept.
17.

Once again, here are links to the cost tables provided by DublinSure.

Medical:
https://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&ik=50bc97e310&view=att&th=12a925f8ac0f8fc6&attid=0.1&disp=inline&realattid=f_gd3tdqst0&zw

Dental/Vision:
https://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&ik=50bc97e310&view=att&th=12a925f8ac0f8fc6&attid=0.2&disp=inline&realattid=f_gd3thgip1&zw

Refer to a googlegroups posting of Aug. 20 for our timeline.

In solidarity,
Bill Snyder, Michael Fitzhugh and Rebecca Rosen Lum
Health Benefits Committee
Guild Freelancers
freelance@mediaworkers.org
rrosenlum@gmail.com

Eligibility Requirements
We propose creating two classes of membership in Guild Freelancer,
professional and general. Professional members will be eligible for
group health insurance, following 90 days of membership in good
standing. General members will not be eligible for group health
insurance. Guild freelancer members are responsible for self-reporting
any changes in status that would change their membership class.

Professional
Professional class is limited to persons substantially engaged
primarily in, and paid for, reporting and/or editing in either print,
broadcast or online, blogging, books, poetry, technical writing, copy
writing, design/illustration, audio/radio, photojournalism, video,
multimedia, or web design/production.

General
General membership is available to individuals engaged in occasional
writing, editing, etc. and to former journalists, journalism
educators, students, and supporters now engaged in occupations other
than journalism.

Adapted from the Investigative Reporters and Editors guidelines, “Who
can join”:
http://www.ire.org/join/classes.html

Other issues
•       We need to adopt a waiting period to minimize liability to the
Guild. The industry standard ranges from 90 days to six months; we are
opting for 90 days.
•       A review committee composed of the credentials chair, unit chair, a
Guild staff representative and three unit members will determine
eligibility for Professional Memberships.
•       The two-tiered membership includes a process for hearing appeals of
denials and/or disputes, with Representative Assembly of the Guild the
ultimate authority.