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:

• The Globe is “looking into” new allegations of plagiarism against Margaret Wente [BuzzFeed Canada]
• Canadian Heritage announces major CanCon review [Globe and Mail]
• SABEW announces winners for the 2016 Best in Business awards [Masthead]
• Journalism startups carve out niches for themselves in Canada [J-Source]
• Canada drops 10 spots on 2016 world press freedom index after "dark age for journalism" [J-Source]
• PWAC annual awards applications open [PWAC]
• 10 freelance tax tips [Rags 2 Reasonable]

From The U.S. and beyond:

• New York Times plans to cut hundreds of jobs later this year [New York Post]
• Vice Media writers ratify first WGA contract [Deadline]
• How to break up with a freelance collaborator [Freelancers Union]
• 10 Good and Bad Things About Co-Working [The Freelancer]
• An ethical quandary for nonprofit journalism — are funders calling the shots? [Poynter]
• Making the Most of a Writers’ Association Membership [The Open Notebook]
• Are Personal Essays Dangerous for Freelancers? [The Freelancer]
• Family of Steven Sotloff, freelance journalist slain by Islamic State, sues Syria [AP]

Last week on Story Board:

• Forum Freelance Fund applications due April 30: Applications are open for the 2016 Forum Freelance Fund bursary, which provides funding for freelancers to attend dangerous environment training courses...
• The Born Freelancer on the Merits of Becoming an “Expert”: Being an expert makes you a name that others will seek out and provide you with opportunities to become better known...

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.