Category Archives: Canada

Fucking Writers’ Conferences: how do they work?

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This is our April topic. I can drop an F bomb in it because the speaker said it was okay, and that was because the speaker is me and I’m the one who puts the PRO in profanity, right? Damn straight.

This month we’re on the 4th Tuesday instead of the 3rd Monday, but oh well, a foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of small minds, eh? And we’ll be starting at 6pm instead of 7, and it’s all cash, $20 a head for the set meal. Everybody gets the earlybird price this month.

There’s been a bit of chaos around Shebeen Global HQ this month, but we’re finally organized. We’ll be in the Revel Room upstairs again, from 6-8 or so. This way you don’t have to grab a snack before the meeting!

I’ll be speaking about how to get the most from a writer’s conference, and having been on the board of a couple and an attendee and speaker at more than I can count without taking off my shoes, I have a lot to share. If you do too, we want to hear from you.

And don’t forget the Women&Words conference this coming Friday and Saturday. Guess who’ll be speaking there as well? [insert smiley of your choice, as I am far too bloody dignified to use them myself]

By the way, if you have a favorite conference, please do drop a link to them in the comments. The more the merrier, and it’d be great to do one grand roundup post of all the conferences within reach of BC.

CBC Senior Communications Position

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A new job has come in over the transom: this one’s primarily marketing, so may the best Canadian Content pimp win!

(I am sure the CBC is horrified by that, but oh well!)

Communications, Community Outreach & Marketing Professional

CBC/Radio-Canada – Vancouver, Canada Area

Job Description

Pour lire cette offre d’emploi en français, SVP visitez notre site web: http://www.radio-canada.ca/emplois et cherchez sous l’offre: VAN00360

If you are interested in public broadcasting and strive to take pride in what you do, look no further. This is the place for you. The national public broadcaster, CBC/Radio-Canada will give you the opportunity to work on projects you wouldn’t find anywhere else.

CBC British Columbia is seeking a dynamic marketing communications professional with a passion for community development and public broadcasting. As a Senior Communications Officer you will be instrumental in raising the profile of CBC British Columbia across the Province. You bring an innovative spirit to your work, and thrive in fast paced environments. If you are a marketing pro with a community background then this is the job for you!

Desired Skills & Experience

We are looking for candidates with the following profile:

Develop and implement strategic, integrated marketing plans to promote local TV, radio, online and community programming in BC.

Create and execute innovative marketing strategies for online and social media platforms.

Diversify and manage CBC Vancouver’s community sponsorship and partnership program through the negotiation and coordination of strategic partnerships.

Superior negotiation skills and the ability to navigate complex issues to bring about agreement.

Write, edit and produce a range of marketing materials (print and broadcast); Write and produce television, radio and online promotions.

Conceptualize and develop publicity concepts and approaches, including developing and pitching story ideas to appropriate media, developing and producing supporting visual and print materials, organizing publicity activities, directing photo shoots and handling a wide variety of media inquiries and requests.

Imaginative, resourceful and always ready with a solution to a challenge or suggestion for a more effective/efficient way to do business.

Ability to work flexible hours often at short notice depending on activities and events.

Sense of humour.

Working knowledge of Vancouver’s diverse communities and an established network within those communities.

Demonstrated public speaking and networking skills. Success in crafting dynamic and persuasive presentations.

Graduation from University or Community College with a diploma or certificate in Public Relations or Communications, or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

Minimum of five years direct experience in promotion and marketing. Job also requires demonstrated superior writing skills, leadership, creativity, strategic thinking, planning, organizational ability and interpersonal skills. Knowledge of CBC radio and television broadcasting is required.

 

Readings at the Utopia Festival!

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Utopia Festival: more than just dj's!

Utopia Festival: more than just dj's!

Got this via an email from Nikki Reimer, one from Sean Cranbury, two from W2, one from Irwin Oostindie, and four Facebook invitations. So, obviously, I HAVE to post it!

Along with the direct link to buy tickets.

Just a quick note to let you know about an amazing literary event next Saturday – Vancouver Women Read @ W2 Utopia Festival.

Curated by Nikki Reimer and Alex Leslie in conjunction with the W2 Real Vancouver Writers’ Series this is some real next level programming.

Nikki and Alex have curated 5 Vancouver writers whose performances will be punctuated by musical appearances by First Nations artists such as Tanya Tagaq, JB The First Lady and cello prodigy Cris Derkson.

AND – The keynote address will be given by international electroclash sensation Peaches.

Needless to say it’s going to be fairly incredible.

You can find more info about the event, how to buy tickets and the performers here – http://booksontheradio.ca/2011/02/25/w2-utopia-festival-vancouver-women-read-saturday-march-5-2011/

Any help that you can provide in terms of spreading the word to your friends or followers in the social media world is much appreciated.

The hashtag for the event is #W2Utopia.

Looking forward to this event and I hope to see you there.

Thanks,

Sean

—

Sean Cranbury – Executive Editor, Host, Regulator

Books on the Radio / Advent Book Blog / W2 Real Vancouver Writers’ Series / etc…

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Communications Director Wanted

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suessian megaphone

Here’s a juicy job opportunity in the world of do-goodery, a field which I know appeals to Shebeen Club members. Found it on Twitter.

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

Position: Director, Communications
Organization: Small Change Fund http://smallchangefund.org/
Location: Toronto, Ontario or Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario

Small Change Fund empowers Canadians to make big change with small change. Athttp://smallchangefund.org/, we provide a place for people to discover, share, connect with, and support amazing grassroots projects in communities across the country.

Small Change Fund is a young and rapidly evolving organization searching for our first Director of Communications. As our Director of Communications you will have the chance to shape the future of an award-winning organization, and have an impact on all of the grassroots projects we support.

Your journalistic ability will enable you to draw out the stories behind the grassroots projects supported by Small Change Fund, and your skills in marketing will allow you to reach and engage sponsors and donors in supporting these important local efforts to enhance environmental sustainability and social justice.

Your aptitude for multi-tasking will allow you to transition between strategic and operational efforts in a fast-paced environment, while keeping an eye on detail. You excel in using social media for social good and your established network of media contacts support these efforts.

Your energy, enthusiasm and creativity lend well to Small Change Fund’s team, who believe that flexibility, an enterprising spirit, and positive outlook contribute to enabling us to consistently innovate in the area of grassroots giving.

The overarching goals of this position are to:
1. Build and reinforce Small Change Fund’s corporate identity/brand (visual, language) among target audiences
2. Engage target audiences in supporting the projects featured on smallchangefund.org
3. Build new and repeat traffic on smallchangefund.org, and work with staff team to ensure an innovative, unique and authentic experience for donors

Key Responsibilities include:
* Together with the Board Communications Committee, external advisors and staff, develop and execute a strategy using communications, marketing and public engagement standards and practices that reflect SCF’s mission and values.
* Develop a value proposition and key messages to communicate our core brand identity, and work closely with SCF team to ensure messaging is consistent with overall communications, marketing and public engagement objectives
* Provide strategy, content oversight, and creative management to SCF team, including working with consulting writers, designers, and programmers.
* In collaboration with the Program Team, write, create and assist in the dissemination of materials to attract high quality projects to smallchangefund.org
* Continually improve the presentation of projects on smallchangefund.org, including creating tools for donors to explore projects (i.e. video), and developing compelling language
* Working with the Program Team, create strategies and tools that encourage project leaders to tap into their networks, help them share their stories and report on their activities
* Focusing on pipeline and prospect development, and working across related areas, calendar, develop, and drive campaigns to targeted audiences to encourage engagement and philanthropy
* With support from the Program team, lead the creation of a donor centered experience that is creative and effective in maintaining existing and attracting new donors
* Manage media relations, research editorial opportunities and build relationships with key industry media.
* Leverage social networks to build affinities with potential partners, sponsors or issue positions
* Together with the President, Executive Director and Program team, lead the development of community or issue specific funds (e.g. indigenous people’s fund, climate change fund) that may be of particular interest to donors
* Monitor trends in social media tools and applications and appropriately apply that knowledge to increasing the use of social media at Small Change Fund
* Monitor social networks for potential threats or opportunities
* Measure the impact of social media on the overall marketing efforts
* Plan and administer budgets for communications/marketing for the organization
* Provide monthly reporting to executive team.

The successful candidate will have:
* A diploma or degree in communications, marketing, journalism or related area
* Minimum of five years of experience
* Demonstrated interest in the public sector

Interested candidates may send their resume and expression of interest, including links to online writing, blogs, articles, twitter feeds (in both attachment and copied into the body of an email) to info(at) smallchangefund.org* by March 15, 2011.

 

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New Opportunities at the Banff Centre

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Got this from an email:

Writing With Style

Spring program dates: April 17 – 23, 2011
Application deadline: February 15, 2011
Writing genres offered: first chapter novel, poetry, short fiction, creative non-fiction

Program director: Elizabeth Philips
Spring faculty: Wayne Grady, Audrey Thomas, Zsuzsi Gartner, Carolyn Smart

Whether you have attended many writing workshops or this is your first, Writing With Style will be an intense and transformative experience. Amidst a diverse community of writers, participants will encounter new ideas and gain confidence in their own style and voice, while shaping and editing their work-in-progress under the guidance of an experienced writer and editor.

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Literary Journalism

Off-site manuscript development: May 2 – June 24, 2011
On-site residency: July 4 – 30, 2011
Application deadline: March 15, 2011

Program chair: Ian Brown
Faculty editors: Katherine Ashenburg, Don Gillmor

Literary Journalism offers eight established writers of non-fiction an opportunity to develop a major essay, memoir, or feature piece. A month-long residency enables writers to work on their manuscript during individual consultations with faculty and during round-table discussions. Participants are able to advance their professional development through work with the program chair, experienced and exacting faculty editors, and through interaction with each other, invited guest speakers, and with artists from other fields. In addition to a $2000 commission fee, writers accepted to this program will receive an award to cover the program fee and travel expenses.

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Self-directed Writing Residency

These residencies offer the time, space, and facilities for creative thinking, editing, and manuscript development. Writers in all genres are invited to apply.

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Information on these and other Literary Arts programs
For more information please contact:

1-403-762-6180 or 1-800-565-9989
arts_info@banffcentre.ca

more to come, I’m sure.