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:

• Three more times the RCMP have tried to seize reporters' notes [J-Source]
• Magawards board elects four new members [Canadian Magazines]
• FHRITP: Confront it or keep rolling? [RRJ]
• Layoffs at Bell Media result of CRTC changes, says union rep [J-Source]

From The U.S. and beyond:

• These 3 Companies Want to Get Freelancers Paid—in Very Different Ways [The Freelancer]
• 4 must-dos before the holidays take over [Freelancers Union]
• Can you overcome these 3 paralyzing freelance writing fears? [The Write Life]
• Breaking news best practices: Reaching and interviewing witnesses and victims of trauma [Poynter]
• Idea Sex: How New Yorker Cartoonists Generate 500 Ideas a Week [99U] (via @tanyakyi)
• International community calls for the release of Vice fixer Mohammed Ismael Rasool [IFEX]
• The 9 Editors You’ll Have as a Freelance Writer [The Freelancer]
• Just Because I Freelance Doesn’t Mean I Work for Free [Observer.com]
• WordRates/PitchLab Site Aims to Fix Freelance Writing’s Broken Business Model [The Writer Underground]

Last week on Story Board:

• Visual Journalism Master Class with John Lehmann Nov. 21 in Vancouver: Vancouver-area freelancers, if you’re looking to improve your photography skills check out The Tyee’s upcoming Master Class with Globe and Mail staff photographer John Lehmann...

 

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.