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:

• Leader of Far-Right Group Arrested for Invasion of VICE Office [VICE]
• Institute for investigative journalism launches at Concordia [J-Source]
• Winners of the 2018 CJF Awards announced [J-Source]
• Bill to make La Presse a not-for-profit passes after Quebec invokes closure [Globe and Mail]

From The U.S. and beyond:

• Sophomore slump or comeback of the year? How to handle variable income [Freelancers Union]
• Study: male political reporters retweet other dudes 3 times more than their female colleagues [Vox]
• Freelancers are precarious. When should they push back? [CJR]
• How to become a freelance writer: A newbie's guide to earn money writing [The Write Life]
• How to Cover Big Science Events: Lessons from the Great American Eclipse [Open Notebook]
• The best tools and tech to create a podcast in 2018 [Poynter]
• From Journalism to Marketing: 3 Actions That’ll Help Your Career Shift [The Freelancer]
• Advocates are becoming journalists. Is that a good thing? [CJR]
• Why Local Journalism Makes a Difference [Nieman Reports]

Recently on Story Board:

• I sat through a defamation trial. Here's what I learned: Like many journalists, I live in fear of being sued. I pray that being accurate and fair and unmalicious will be enough. Just in case it isn’t, I make sure never to indemnify any publication I write for. Still, what I learned from observing a defamation trial in Toronto this spring shook me up a little. Here’s what you should know...

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.