Who We Are & What We Do

Creators Network is an informal, grassroots networking community created by the American Society of Journalists and Authors. Our goals are simple: to facilitate a free flow of legal and rights-related information among organizations that represent freelance writers and other creators; to exchange ideas, suggestions, and support; and to present a united front in support of creators' rights.

Who Can Join Creators Network

CN is open to writers' groups only. Unfortunately, we are unable to handle the logistics of signing on individuals. However, individuals, please read on. If you belong to any groups - national, regional or specialized - you can also help writers unite by introducing your groups to CN. By reaching enough groups, we will reach a majority of writers in this country and beyond. Canadian and U.K. groups are already on board. We currently have 26 member groups including ASJA, representing thousands of professional writers:

* National Association of Science Writers
* Washington Independent Writers
* Association of Health Care Journalists
* Graphic Artists Guild
* Boston Globe Freelancers Association
* San Diego Freelancers Association
* Dog Writers of America
* Periodical Writers Ass'n of Canada
* Georgia Writers
* Jazz Journalists Association
* Newswomen of New York
* Writers Federation of Nova Scotia
* National Union of Journalists (UK)
* Guild of Health Writers (UK)
* Writers Guild of Great Britain
* Cat Writers of America
* Mexico Writers Alliance
* Boulder Media Women/Media Rendezvous
* Garden Writers Association of America
* Independent Writers of Southern California
* South Asian Journalists Association
* Outdoor Writers Association of America
* Outdoor Writers Guild/UK
* Society of American Travel Writers
* South Florida Frees *

Why CN Was Formed

Freelance writers and other creators are finding their rights -- and livelihoods -- under attack as never before. As freelancers, many of us fight our contract battles alone. Too often we've heard -- and maybe even believed -- that "nobody else has complained" about abusive contract terms. Until now, even our professional groups have been "Balkanized" - isolated and out of touch with each other. This isolation is the void that Creators Network is designed to change. We want all creators' organizations to be informed about our struggles for decent contracts and economic fairness. We hope you'll join us when, perhaps, we call on you to lend your weight to letter writing campaigns or other actions support embattled freelancers.

Position Paper Distribution

At ASJA, we have recently launched two "white papers" to help disseminate information about current contract trends, legal issues, and negotiating strategies. The papers cover all-rights and work-made-for-hire contracts, and indemnification clauses. You can share them freely with members within your organization. (Please keep the content and attribution intact.) We hope groups will endorse these papers to show unity of writers' thinking. We welcome your feedback. We also urge you to share with us news and developments in your particular arena so that we can keep the entire network updated.

E-Mail Link

To facilitate a timely flow of information among creator groups, CN's e-mail network regularly posts important information for you to share with all your members. We require one liaison person from each organization to act as e-mail representative - ideally, a Board member, president, or other official who can disseminate information within a group and facilitate a quick response, if need be, to calls to join P.R. campaigns or other support actions.

Please contact us at CreatorsNetwork@prontomail.com for further details or questions. We look forward to working with you. Together, we can forge a strong network that will amplify the voices and strengthen the message of many thousands of creative freelancers. Thanks again for your interest.

Sue Russell and Sophia Dembling
For the Creators Network