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:

• Torstar cutting 11 full-time, 10 part-time staff at StarMetro in Toronto [Globe and Mail]
• Journalism organizations condemn criminal charges against two community journalists [J-Source]
• Feds must take action to stop Postmedia destruction of local news [CWA Canada]
• Postmedia to close more local newspapers, cut staff cost by 10 per cent [J-Source]

From The U.S. and beyond:

• Getting used to the sound of your own voice: 4 tips for podcasting beginners [Journalism.co.uk]
• How the Globe and Mail blew its news meetings wide open [Poynter]
• Capital Gazette journalist on Twitter: 'Please understand, we do all this to serve our community.' [Poynter]
• 10 overlooked press freedom groups that deserve support [CJR]
• Women in public-facing journalism jobs are exhausted by harassment [Poynter]
• 10 vital elements to making your freelance website superb [Freelance Writing Jobs]
• Why you should consider writing a book: Yes, you! [Freelancers Union]
• How to Stick to a Schedule When You Work From Home [New York Times]

Recently on Story Board:

• CMG Freelance members gain access to National NewsMedia Council support: As part of a new agreement between the two organizations, CMG Freelance members are now able to access the National NewsMedia Council’s pre-publication support and ethics advice...
• Take the Writers' Union of Canada's 2018 income survey: Canada’s national organization of professionally published book authors is conducting a survey of authors’ incomes. It’s designed to try and help the union understand how current industry conditions are impacting writers’ incomes...

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.