Once a week, we gather stories about the media business, journalism, writing, communications, and freelancing—with a Canadian focus—and share them in Off the Wire. Who needs a water cooler?

From Canada:

• National Observer aiming to raise $1 million to build audience [J-Source]
• Can reporting on vulnerable people do more harm than good? [J-Source]
• Trust in local news shaken over racetrack controversy in B.C.'s Cowichan Valley [The Discourse]

From The U.S. and beyond:

• Visual storytelling tips from creators of Humans of New York [Journalism.co.ik]
• 4 Ways Reading “Bad Writing” Can Actually Make You a Stronger Writer [The Write Life]
• A day in the life of Maryn McKenna [Open Notebook]
• CJR Special Report: Photojournalism's moment of reckoning [CJR]
• As local newsrooms shrink, college journalists fill in the gaps [Poynter]
• How to create a successful podcast in five steps [Newsrewired]

Recently on Story Board:

• It's time for government to act on a growing abuse of workers: As Ottawa considers revisions to federal labour standards, it’s time for a reckoning: thousands of workers in this country are wrongly and deliberately misclassified as ‘independent contractors’ and they’re being ripped off. And so is the federal government. Tax coffers are likely out millions of dollars because of the sham...

Spot a story you think we should include in next week's Off the Wire? Email the link to editor@thestoryboard.ca or tweet us at @storyboard_ca.