Off The Wire: News for the Canadian media freelancer Aug 16-22

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:

• Globe and Mail, Ryerson, UBC nominated for Online Journalism Awards [J-Source]
• Liberals probe unpaid internships in federal government [CBC]
• CWA Canada is looking for a Student Membership Co-ordinator [CWA Canada]
• Union putting factual TV worker issues on the public policy map [CMG]
• Publishing Company In Alberta Owes Freelancers Thousands [Canadaland]

From The U.S. and beyond:

• How to Start Freelance Writing: 5 Major Questions Answered [The Write Life]
• 10 Secrets to Successful Pitches [Mediabistro]
• As legacy news organizations cut back, local sites are cropping up to fill the void [Poynter]
• How Twitter Can Make—or Break—Your Career [Mediabistro]
• Can You Be a Successful Freelance Writer With a Pen Name? [The Write Life]

Recently on Story Board:

• CANADALAND takes on Alberta's notoriously slow-paying publisher: The media criticism website CANADALAND published a post this week about Venture Publishing’s habit of paying its freelancers extremely late...
• Equity issues at VICE Canada highlighted by unionization effort: The VICE Canada bargaining committee has been looking closely at equity issues as it prepares for upcoming meetings in August to negotiate a first collective agreement...
• The Born Freelancer on Why Paying to be Published is Wrong: Am I the only person offended by the concept of an author being required to pay to be published?...

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.