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

From Canada:

• Freelancers helped invent digital communications tools to build online networks [J-Source]
• Briarpatch surpasses fundraising goal [Masthead]
• Are Canadian public editors and ombuds independent enough to do their jobs? [J-Source]

From The U.S. and beyond:

• 6 Lucrative Freelance Writing Clients to Add to Your Portfolio [The Write Life]
• Social media and the changing face of conflict reporting [Journalism.co.uk]
• 5 Reasons Writing is the Worst Job Ever (And Why We Do it Anyway) [The Write Life]
• 6 freelancing rules that aren't confusing at all [The Freelancer]
• Fox reaches settlement in landmark lawsuit over unpaid internships [Hollywood Reporter]
• 7 Ways to Be a Successful Freelancer—and Book More Repeat Assignments [Mediabistro]

Last week on Story Board:

• The 5-Minute Freelancer Q&A #31 -- David Hayes: In this regular feature, Story Board asks Canadian writers to share a few details about their work habits and their strategies for navigating the ups and downs of freelance life... 
• There's gold in them thar trade mags!: As freelance writers, we often overlook trade publications as potential markets—largely because they are not visible. Rarely sold at newsstands, the majority of trade magazines are mailed directly to private audiences—usually to members of a particular trade or profession—be it doctors, pilots, bankers, bakers, embalmers, and truckers...

 

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.