Off The Wire: News for the Canadian media freelancer Jan 17-23

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:

• A field guide to Canada's media consultations [J-Source]
• Torstar at a crossroads [Globe and Mail]
• A Year On Strike At The Chronicle Herald [Canadaland]
• Ezra Levant trolled me for taking my seven-year-old son to see Justin Trudeau [J-Source]
• The business of collaboration [J-Source]
• 2017 Alberta Magazines Conference sneak peek [AMPA]

From The U.S. and beyond:

• 5 Lessons I Learned Tracking My Pitches for a Year [The Freelancer]
• Do unions need to evolve to survive the next four years? [Freelancers Union]
• How to make your big ideas happen [Freelancers Union]
• With the 2020 report, The New York Times charts a course for its future [Poynter]
• The Best Invoicing Systems for Freelancers: A Writer Tries 10 Popular Options [The Write Life]
• Facebook Is Expanding Its Program To Fight Fake News Into Germany [BuzzFeed]
• Vice announces launch of documentary film division [Indie Wire]

Recently on Story Board:

• Is there a link between running and writing? Some experts think so: About two weeks ago, I sat in front of my computer screen, feeling frazzled, my heart pounding. I was stressed – trying to meet a tight deadline for a fitness piece due that day. There was no time to waste, not even to make a cup of coffee. But I just couldn’t focus. I had to do something: RUN...
• Upcoming Doc Project mentorship deadline February 1: In the past two years over 60 of your CMG colleagues gone through this unique professional development program,  working intensively with veteran CBC producers/mentors to produce unique, innovative radio documentaries...

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.