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:

• Professional Association Profile: CMG Freelance [The Jenn Report]
• Entries open for National Magazine Awards [Canadian Magazines]
• Social media shakes things up in journalism [J-Source]
• Call for Submissions: 39th annual National Magazine Awards [Magazine Awards]
• News director of two BC radio stations resigns after editorial staff asked to sell ads [J-Source]

From The U.S. and beyond:

• For freelancers, getting stiffed is part of the job. Some in New York City want to fix it [Washington Post]
• 3 tips for pushing through your backlog [Freelancers Union]
• Full House: How to work at home with kids during the holidays [The Write Life]
• How to Make It as a Travel Writer, According to Four Veteran Freelancers [The Freelancer]
• 25 ways to write better emails [Freelancers Union]
• U.S. wage-theft bill threatens employers with jail, requires contracts for freelancers [Crains]
• Interaction on Twitter enhances journalists’ credibility [American Press Institute]
• Checklist: How to Write a Query Letter That Doesn’t Suck [The Write Life]

Last week on Story Board:

• The 5-Minute Freelancer Q&A #25 -- Frances Bula: Frances Bula knows Vancouver. She covers the city’s wide-ranging urban issues — from drug addiction and prostitution to property development and transportation — for publishers such as the Globe and Mail and Vancouver Magazine...

 

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.