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: 

• Bloggers and commenters fund a journalism fellowship on behalf of one of their own [J-Source]
• Media Union Condemns Attempted Intimidation of VICE Journalists [CMG]
• CWA Canada stands with VICE as source protection case goes to Supreme Court [CWA Canada]

From The U.S. and beyond:

• How to become your editor's favourite writer [The Freelancer]
• Critics and online outlets lead the vanguard in arts writing [Nieman Lab]
• There are no limits to audio storytelling: 10 tips for podcasting beginners [Journalism.co.uk]
• Blocking, shoving the latest in rough treatment of journalists [Poynter]
• How to Stay True to Your Journalism Ethics in the World of Content Marketing [The Freelancer]
• 3 obstacles that hold creatives back (and how to overcome them) [Freelancers Union]
• Freelancers recovering stolen wages under new NYC law [Next City]
• No filter: The importance of light when you're taking photos with your smartphone [Journalism.co.uk]
• Keeping your overhead low and your profit margin high [Freelancers Union]

Recently on Story Board:

• 2018 Portenier Human Rights Bursary competition open for applications: Freelance journalists and independent documentary makers working on projects that focus on human rights abuses can apply for the bursary, which provides the winner with $3000 to attend hostile environment training...
• The Born Freelancer Asks: Are We Notoriously Lazy?: The accusation took me completely by surprise. I was once in casual discussions with an industry insider about the conditions under which we might work together on a number of future projects -- me as a writer and he in a non-creative administrative capacity...

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.