Off The Wire: News for the Canadian media freelancer June 28-July 4

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:

• The BBC is coming to Canada [Poynter]
• Global Reporting Centre, a new nonprofit, wants to tell the world’s biggest untold stories [Poynter]
• BBC announces new investments in Canada [BBC]
• A rough 24 hours for Canadian media: BuzzFeed and Global retreat [Nieman Lab]
• Briarpatch magazine needs $15,000 to keep publishing [J-Source]
• BuzzFeed Canada closing Ottawa bureau [J-Source]
• Heritage minister drafts advisory panel to help her consider sweeping changes to cultural policy [Canadian Magazines]
• BuzzFeed Canada to close Parliament Hill bureau [Globe and Mail]
• Publishers prepare for possibility of Canada Post strike [Masthead]
• How Toronto Life's publisher plays Moneyball [J-Source]

From The U.S. and beyond:

• How to tell when a spark of inspiration is worth pursuing [Freelancers Union]
• What news organisations can do to protect journalists reporting from conflict zones [Journalism.co.uk]
• Media coalition pushes to increase safety for freelance journalists [IJNet]
• Freelance Writers: How to Take Time Off (Yes, Really!) [The Write Life]
• The "no shame" formula for rising from failure [Freelancers Union]

Last week on Story Board:

• Writers speak out against The Walrus’s new freelance agreement: At some point this year – it’s not clear precisely when – The Walrus began offering an updated freelance contract to its contributors. Some aspects of the supposedly improved Walrus agreement once again have Canadian freelancers speaking out against contract clauses that infringe on their rights...
• Another freelancer alleges “idea appropriation” by The Walrus: During the past year, management at The Walrus magazine has been accused of poor treatment of staff and freelancers. This month, another freelance writer has come to Story Board with new allegations...

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.