Paying your writers top rates is the smartest thing you can do as a magazine editor.

The words that are music to the ears of freelance journalists are proven policy for Bank of New Zealand Freelance 2008 keynote speaker John Cranna.

The freelance champion, former AA Directions editor and now director of AUT's Centre for Modern Writing, heads a stellar line up of speakers at the May 8 conference.

Image: North and South (assistant) editor Virginia LarsonPaying your writers top rates is the smartest thing you can do as a magazine editor.

The words that are music to the ears of freelance journalists are proven policy for Bank of New Zealand Freelance 2008 keynote speaker John Cranna.

The freelance champion, former AA Directions editor and now director of AUT's Centre for Modern Writing, heads a stellar line up of speakers at the May 8 conference.

Image: North and South (assistant) editor Virginia LarsonCranna, who's trendsetting, better pay campaign at AA Directions was rated an extraordinary event in New Zealand media history, will reflect on his experiences then and since in his address, Things can only get better.

Making a difference is also the guiding principal of another conference headliner, freelance investigative journalist Nicky Hager. His fourth book, The Hollow Men, has joined his previous three as a best seller.

Hager will talk about how he tackles the big stories while being a self-employed writer.

Cranna and Hager bookend the conference, which will also feature North and South (assistant) editor Virginia Larson, Kath Webster from AA Directions, Next's Brenda Ward, the NZ Herald's multimedia editor Jeremy Rees, freelance columnists Rod Oram, Linley Boniface and Tracey Barnett, and feature writers and authors David Cohen and Peter Calder.

The conference, which in just three years has become New Zealand's biggest annual gathering of journalists, has a record for making a difference for freelancers.

Noted one: "I made so many improvements to my business after last year that I now have a large tax payment coming up for unpredicted earnings!"

Said another: "I'm sure that at least part of the difference [in payment rates] has been these conferences and more and more of us refusing to accept the old regime."

By popular request, this year's conference is providing a variety of workshops to allow for more in-depth study of writing issues and business practicalities.

Workshop topics include small business management, travel, business and lifestyle writing, negotiating and selling overseas. Leaders include editors, experienced freelancers, and experts in accounting and law.

The venue is again the Hyatt Regency in central Auckland, and principal sponsor, the Bank of New Zealand, is also again hosting a cocktail event on the eve of the conference. Guest speaker there will be former Listener editor Finlay Macdonald.

Statistics New Zealand is returning to the after-conference function to announce its annual journalism award. The Freelancers' Choice award - the editor judged the best to work with by freelancers - will also be made there.

Registrations are now open for the conference at the TelstraClear-sponsored website.

The fee is unchanged at $75 including GST for early bird registration which is available until April 13. Workshop numbers are limited and will be filled on a first-paid basis.

More information

Kim Griggs and Pip Stevenson, Freelance Market
Organisers, Bank of New Zealand Freelance 2008 Conference
E: conference@freelancemarket.co.nz

18/02/08