Off the Wire: News for the Canadian media freelancer April 3-9

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: 

• Working Media podcast: Karen K. Ho [J-Source]
• 27 writers make 2018 CBC Short Story Prize longlist [CBC Books]
• CMG welcomes new President of CBC/Radio-Canada, urges focus on investment in local news and programming [CMG]
• What a failed media startup can teach us about involving readers in reporting [Nieman Lab]
• How I Survive on a Variable Income [From Rags to Reasonable]
• Torstar hiring 20 reporters as it rebrands, revamps Metro newspapers [J-Source]

From The U.S. and beyond:

• 5 Things I Wish I’d Known When I Started Freelancing [The Freelancer]
• Why education is essential for freelance success [Freelancers Union]
• 31 Free Writing Contests: Legitimate Competitions With Cash Prizes [The Write Life]
• Framing your professional value: Tips for older freelancers [Freelancers Union]
• Onion Inc. has unionized [AV Club]

Recently on Story Board:

• Need help with your taxes? Get organized with the New School of Finance's free course: It’s tax season, freelancers, and that means it’s time to dig out that pile of receipts and tax slips and get them organized. If that idea fills you with dread, the New School of Finance has a free course that might help...
• Halifax freelancer meet-and-greet April 18: Come and join us for this casual social night where we’ll make connections, share ideas and discuss ways we can work together to improve the working lives of freelancers...

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.