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:

• CBC Tentative Agreement – Information Package [CMG]
• Torstar reported $3.1-million Q4 loss, revenue down from year ago [J-Source]
• Remaining staff struggle to cope after layoffs at Ottawa Citizen, Canadian Press [CWA Canada]

From The U.S. and beyond:

• Tip: Develop new interview techniques [Journalism.co.uk]
• Daily habits of productive freelancers [Freelancers Union]
• Contently's New Service Fee Draws a Backlash [Managing Editor]
• LinkedIn: here is what journalism students need to know [Journalism.co.uk]
• Contently Shoots Itself in the Foot with a Charge for Freelancers to Get Paid [Inc.]
• How Freelance Labor Became the Unsung Casualty of Media Layoffs [Observer]
• Freelancers claim they haven't been paid for contributions to Out magazine [NY Daily News]
• How to live your most productive freelance life [Journo Resources]
• Out Magazine: Pay the Freelancers! [National Writers Union]
• Out Magazine's Fresh Start Overpowered by Bitter Money Dispute [New York Times]

Recently on Story Board:

• The 5-Minute Freelancer Q&A #40 -- Kalli Anderson: Award-winning freelance audio producer, filmmaker and journalist Kalli Anderson spoke with Story Board recently about the value of working in a variety of media, the ways in which teaching complements her journalism, and the importance of sharing information among freelancers...

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.