Off The Wire: News for the Canadian media freelancer Mar 31-April 6

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:

• In science reporting, when does background become baggage? [J-Source]
• Black Press folds two Vancouver Island newspapers [J-Source]
• Finalists' names for Atlantic Journalism Awards [Canadian Magazines]
• Winnipeg Free Press to launch micro-payment paywall [J-Source]
• John Furlong drops defamation lawsuit against Georgia Straight contributor Laura Robinson [Georgia Straight]
• Furlong drops defamation suit, but freelance journalist will pursue countersuit [Globe and Mail]
• Monthly Career Checklist for Freelancers [The Freelance Hustle]
• Seven habits for recording interviews [luigibenetton.com]

 

From The U.S. and beyond:

• 4 Ways Freelancers Can Protect Their Work From Disappearing [The Freelancer]
• A super PAC for journalists? [publicintegrity.org] (via @mediagazer)
• How to be persistent without being a pest [Freelancers Union]
• A Tired Brain Could Actually Be More Creative [Smithsonian.com]
• Track Your Pitches: Use This Spreadsheet to Land More Online Writing Jobs [The Write Life]
• Negotiate like a pro [Freelancers Union]
• What freelancers can learn from kids [Freelancers Union]
• 15 tips for newsgathering via Twitter [sarahmarshall.io] (via @journochat)
• 22 tips for working writers [Medium]
• Inside NPR's podcasting strategy [Poynter]

 

Last week on Story Board:

• Canadian J-Schools and the Internship Issue: Work for Pay or Pay to Work?: “Volunteer to do something which is at least somewhat related to your expertise,” Stephen Poloz, governor of the Bank of Canada, urged unemployed youth in a widely criticized November 2014 speech....
• 2015 Dave Greber Freelance Writers Awards Seeking Submissions: If you’ve written about social justice issues this year, you’re eligible to submit your work for the Dave Greber Freelance Writers Awards...

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.