Category Archives: Freelance Cafe West

When Good Soldiers Do Bad Things book reading, July 6, 6pm, SF

Hey folks. One of our own has just released a book – please come out in support at her next reading. Details below!
-mia

Tortured: When Good Soldiers Do Bad Things

July 6th
Book Passage in SF’s Ferry Building
6 pm

http://www.bookpassage.com/event_detailed.php?id=3353


An eye-opening exposé of America’s torture regime

Myths about torture abound: Waterboarding is the worst we’ve done. The soldiers were hardened professionals. All Americans now believe that what we did was wrong. Torture is now a thing of the past. Journalist Justine Sharrock’s reporting reveals a huge chasm between what has made headlines and what has actually happened. She traveled around the country, talking to the young, low-ranking soldiers that watched our prisoners, documenting what it feels like to torture someone and discovering how many residents of small town America think we should have done a lot more torture.

Tortured goes behind the scenes of America’s torture program through the personal stories of four American soldiers who were on the frontlines of the “war on terror,” including the Abu Ghraib whistleblower. They reveal how their orders came from the top with assurances that those orders were legal and how their experiences left them emotionally scarred and suffering a profound sense of betrayal by the very government for which they fought.

  • Based on the firsthand accounts of young, working-class soldiers who were forced to carry out orders crafted by officers, politicians, and government lawyers who have never answered for their actions
  • The Department of Justice may still launch an investigation into torture under Bush—and Sharrock argues it must be done
  • Shows how it feels to torture, and how people back home reacted to their revelations

If reading Tortured doesn’t make you angry, nothing America does to tarnish its reputation as a beacon of fairness and freedom ever will.

You can pre-order it from Amazon here or at your local indie bookstore here

Wiley, June 2010, ISBN: 978-0-470-45403-9

You can also preview it through Google

next FC gathering at Beer Revolution, 7/24, 6:30pm Oakland

Join Freelance Cafe For A Beer Revolution Next Thursday

Please join the Freelance Cafe on June 24 in celebrating the 2010 summer with a relaxing social event at Beer Revolution in Oakland. We'll toast to long, warm nights, meeting our deadlines, and any exciting new projects we're working on. 

Located in Old Oakland, one of our favorite neighborhood districts, Beer Revolution features outdoor seating, a fine craft beer selection, and reasonable prices. Since there's no food menu, feel free to bring your own munchies. Also, the spot is surrounded by restaurants. A vegan soul eatery next door, Souley Vegan, delivers orders right to your table upon request (yay!). Beer Revolution is located at 464 3rd Street (between Washington St & Broadway). The 12th Street BART station is but a stone's throw away.

Check them out at: www.beer-revolution.com

See you at 6:30 p.m.!

For additional information, please contact Jennifer Inez Ward at 510.393,7544 or jennifer.wrd@gmail.com

Short-term CWA jobs available now

Hey all. This from the Freelance Media Workers Guild – earn a few extra bucks for journalism-type work. Details below.
-mia

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CWA is seeking people to do short-term organizing work in San

Francisco — particularly, folks conversant in Tagalog. The work is a
good fit for anyone with journalism skills and offers quite decent
pay.

It involves walking around UCSF campuses, finding offices and
departments, locating specific people and collecting their
signatures… If you've done any reporting, much of this will feel
really familiar.

Hours are pretty flexible, so you can work in freelance jobs. Also,
they will give you an orientation and some basic training. Give it a try,
and if it feels comfortable to you, you'll be asked to make a two-week
commitment.

Questions? Contact John Dugan at jdugan@cwa-union.org.

Kind regards,
Rebecca Rosen Lum
Unit Chair, Guild Freelancers
rrosenlum@gmail.com

new podcast looking for pieces on architecture, urban planning

Interesting opportunity from the Chicago Architecture Foundation – they're starting a podcast and are looking for stories. Pay is decent, content is pretty cool. Details below. -Mia

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One Nation Call Outs

The Chicago Architecture Foundation and radio host & producer Edward Lifson are developing and producing an ongoing weekly web and radio broadcast program tentatively titled One Nation, Under Construction. The program is about why the United States man-made environment looks the ways it does, and how that affects a person's life. It will engage people in learning the stories behind the building—conceptual and physical—of America’s spaces, places, and structures. Each week, the show will address a humanities theme through exploration of architecture, infrastructure, urban history, planning, and landscape. We are looking for producers of compelling, passionate audio stories about the built / man-made environment for the following segments:

O Pioneers! Redux? A commissioned story about the following: young people are emptying out of the center of the US. In states such as Nebraska and Kansas, only the very elderly remain as young people seek opportunity elsewhere. How is this different from the pioneer days? A few elderly guests from Nebraska, the Dakotas, Kansas discuss why they’re staying in their homes and how they have witnessed change in the rural US…

Dream House A commissioned story about the following: a family who bought what they thought would be their dream house, but it turned out to be a disaster. The dream house may be on the extreme fringe of the suburbs, in the city, etc. The story will surprise us, make us laugh, and connect humanities-based ideas about sprawl, cities, home.

Mortgage Crisis A commissioned story about the following: many people have recently lost their homes in the mortgage crisis. In this segment a diverse group of people come together to discuss the fantasies and realities of home ownership and how the mortgage crisis has affected them. The group may include: a Mexican-American family, a retired schoolteacher, a real estate agent, a firefighter, etc.

Please send your ideas, your pitches for any or all segments along with a sample of your work.

Each segment will be 4-6 minutes and $400-$600 compensation, dependent on production process.

Send all questions and pitches to Alyssa Kilroy: akilroy@architecture.org

Craigslist Foundation Boot Camp, Aug 14, UC Berkeley

Hey folks. I went to this bootcamp a few years ago and found it pretty worthwhile for the cost. It's mostly about starting and managing non-profits but there was a lot of useful info about collaboration, marketing, and general biz methods. Plus there are a ton of networking and story-finding opportunities. Check it out.
-mia

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Boot Camp Earlybird Registration through June 30
Tickets start at just $75. Ten reasons to
register now for Boot Camp:

1.   an action-packed day with inspiring leaders, live music, and hands-on workshops

2.   morning keynote
3.   four breakout sessions (select from more than 36 topics in three tracks)

4.   afternoon closing panel featuring Craig Newmark

5.   yummy food (breakfast, lunch and snacks)
6.   access to exhibit plaza with exhibitors, activities, facilitated networking, bookstore and more

7.   a half-hour, private coaching session with a Coaches Training Institute coach ($150 value)

8.   facilitated, "everyone is an expert" activities
9.   post-event cocktail party at The Hub Bay Area
10. networking with peers, colleagues and fellow change-oriented, passionate professionals

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Volunteers Needed
Volunteers make Boot Camp happen! For instance, Buckley White, a critical marketing volunteer, put together our first newsletter last week. And Clayton Gaddis is seeking in-kind donations. Thanks to Clayton, Clif Bar, Adina World, Hansen and others will keep your appetite sated on Aug. 14! We are so thankful for Buckley and Clayton's support. If you'd like to join our volunteer team, in advance or on the day of the event,
learn more here.

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Everyone is an Expert at Boot Camp
With an emphasis on fun and lively interaction and a belief that everyone is an expert, this year we are introducing two new types of facilitated activities to empower attendees to identify additional challenges and solutions, and share knowledge in a collaborative environment.

One new activity will be the Tech Campfire, where we invite you to propose a burning tech issue and then provide facilitators to address YOUR questions in a one-on-one or small group format.

The other is the Idea Bazaar, a free exchange of ideas loosely scheduled into mini-sessions. You are the experts. Some will be group problem solving exercises, others will be about sharing on-the-ground experiences and solutions to collaborative educational experiences. It's up to you.


If you have a burning tech question or mini-session idea then please let us know! We have set up online forms to gather your suggestions. Share your ideas for
Tech Campfire or Idea Bazaar topics.

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Boot Camp Presenters Author Two New Books
Veteran Boot Camp presenter and social media guru Beth Kanter has co-authored a new book,
The Networked Nonprofit. Coming out June 21st. Join a virtual book launch and support Cambodian kids.

Peter Block and John McKnight, both best-selling authors and experienced community builders, have authored, The Abundant Community: Awakening the Power of Families and Neighborhoods.

Beth, Peter and John will each speak about their book topics and more at Boot Camp. Don't miss their workshops. Read more about Beth's session. Read more about John and Peter's session.

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Proud to Announce New Partnerships
We believe everyone should work together to build stronger communities.  For the first time, Boot Camp has collaborated with our partners to create sessions that demonstrate the power of ALL sectors to empower and enrich communities. Partners include
International City/County Managers Association (ICMA), Urban Libraries Council, Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), Center for Nonprofit & Public Leadership – Haas, UC Berkeley, and HandsOn Network. In their powerful Boot Camp sessions, these partners and others will discuss how they work with the nonprofit and business communities to jointly build stronger communities.

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Coaches Training Institute Special Offer for Boot Campers
All Boot Camp registrants are eligible for $200 off Coaches Training Institute's Co-active Fundamentals Course just for attending! Please call 800-691-6008 to register and mention "BootCamp2010".

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2010 Knight-Batten Awards, deadline June 11

side bar, three days left to apply

 

Knight-Batten Awards for Innovations in Journalism

The awards recognize news and information ideas that significantly enhance opportunities for digital engagement.

$10,000 Grand Prize and $6,000 in Special Distinction Awards

Click Here to Apply

There is a $40 application fee per entry. The Knight-Batten Awards are funded by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.

Deadline: Friday, June 11, 2010

 

 

newsdesk.org seeks interns, SF

Hey folks. I think I'm changing my policy about posting unpaid internship opportunities. For folks just starting out I can't think of any better way to get a foot in the door for future paid freelance gigs. That's how I did it. Obviously I will do my best to find paid positions, but I think it's worth putting these other options out there. This one from Newsdesk.org. Check it out!
-mia
freelancecafe.org

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Newsdesk.org is seeking interns to help craft its "News You Might Have Missed" editorial mission. Work opportunities include Web research, online publishing (including social media), and bylined writing.

We are based in downtown San Francisco, and are grant funded by the Ethics & Excellence in Journalism Foundation. For more information, visit us online at: http://newsdesk.org/

Intern Tasks:

• Work with seasoned news reporters and editors, learning to use search-optimized tools such as hypertext (links), images and video to maximize exposure and reach.

• Research, write and publish articles online.

• Use social networking tools such as Twitter, Facebook, Digg, Reddit, StumbleUpon, and etc., to distribute our news.

Work Requirements:

• Four hours per day, up to four days per week

• Interns will work in-office depending on computer availability. Telecommuting is also possible with check-ins via Skype, Yahoo Messenger, iChat, etc.

Coverage Areas:

Newsdesk.org covers "important but overlooked news and underserved communities," and uses a simple matrix in deciding what its news mix will be. Stories and research should fall under one or more of the following areas:

• Democracy, Economy, Environment, Nation, Public Health and World. Subcategories include water, energy, agriculture, elections, media, education, justice, arts/culture, public health, etc.

• Communities and geographic regions include, but are not limited to: China, Latin America, the Indian subcontinent, women, Africa, African Americans, Asian Americans, Latinos, the elderly, children and artists.

Compensation:
 
This is an unpaid opportunity. Interns will develop online-publishing skills directly applicable to today's media-job market. We are glad to arrange for academic credit.

TO APPLY:

Send your resume and three writing samples to George Shirk, Editor, via e-mail to editor@newsdesk.org.

NYU’s Open Video Conference seeks proposals

Something for you video folks. NOTE: deadline for proposals is June 7th. Sorry for the short notice! I forward them as I get them.
-mia

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I’m writing on behalf of the Open Video Alliance, in preparation for our Open Video Conference in New York City, October 1-2. OVC is a high-profile gathering of thought leaders in business, academia, technology, and non-profits to explore the future of the online video medium. CFP: Open Video Conference proposals deadline: June 7th

Apologies for any duplication, but the deadline is soon…

This year’s OVC is particularly important, given new technology developments.

If you are interested in the critical debates around online video, participatory culture, and the mass media generally, you may be interested in participating. Details from last year’s event are available at http://openvideoalliance.org/<wbr>open-video-conference/<wbr>speakers09/.

If you have an idea for a panel, workshop, or any other programming, please take the time to suggest it at:

http://openvideoconference.<wbr>org/proposals

We will offer travel funding to a number of participants. The deadline to propose a session is June 7th.

Please feel free to pass the message along to friends and colleagues who are interested in online video and the open web.

Best wishes,

Ben MoskowitzGeneral coordinator, Open Video Alliance

http://openvideoalliance.org <http://openvideoalliance.org/<wbr>>  <http://openvideoalliance.<wbr>org/>

Contact: (714) 420-6471

Reminder – FC event TONIGHT at TiCouz, 6:30pm, SF

Don't forget the FC monthly gathering TONIGHT in SF! Hope you can make it. -mia
freelancecafe.org
FC on Twitter
FC on Facebook

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Please join us for our May Happy Hour at Ti Couz Restaurant (3108 16th Street, San Francisco) tonight at 6:30.  If you haven't already RSVPed to Jen, please drop a line to rori@freelancecafe.org.  Also, please bring enough cash to cover your crepe and drink + about 30% for tax and tip. See you there!

-Rori
415-730-7380

2 minute survey can create money for Spot.Us reporting

Hey all – this is from the folks at Spot.Us. They’re creating an entirely new model for funding independent reporting, and this is one way to help make it happen. I did it. It was strange, but satisfying. Kind of like Kiva.org for freelance reporters. Check it out! -mia

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With less than 2 minutes and 4 clicks you can help independent freelancers make money…for free! You can raise a free $5 to help the reporter of your choice tackle an independent reporting project via Spot.Us. You’ll also get a quick peak at an innovative sponsorship model.1. Go to www.spot.us and hit “register” in the upper left h and corner.
2. Click the large button that says “Earn Credits”
3. Take the quick survey.
4. Your account now has $5 in credits and you’ll automatically be directed to a page that lists current Spot.Us projects. Click “Apply Credits” on the pitch of your choice.

Once confirmed, you’re done!
Thank you, thank you.
Best,


David Cohn
http://Spot.Us
http://twitter.com/digidave

(310) 365-3600