Off The Wire: News for the Canadian media freelancer Oct 27-Nov 2

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:

• Rogers pulling Flare magazine from newsstands next year [Globe and Mail]
• Online journal offers perspective on intern debate [J-Source]
• Meltdown at The Walrus [Canadaland]
• Two CBC unions call on network president and board to resign [J-Source]
• Why 3 Canadian newspapers gave up on the tablet edition [Poynter]
• Carve out your writing niche and then own it! [PWAC Toronto]

From The U.S. and beyond:

• So you want to be a freelancer... [CNBC]
• Help! For Writers: 10 things to do when you can’t think of anything to write [Poynter]
• How one freelancer relentlessly pursued a deadbeat client – and won [Freelancers Union]
• Making This Common Query Letter Mistake? Here’s Your Pitch Fix [The Write Life]
• You can’t pay your rent with 'the unique platform and reach our site provides' [Wil Wheaton]
• Will the Real Yelp for Journalists Please Stand Up? [Observer Innovation] (via @Romenesko)
• Being a generalist will not get you as far as having a niche: A Q&A with Susan Grossman [Journalism.co.uk]

Last week on Story Board:

• Allie Wilkinson -- a 'how did you do it?' profile: Allie Wilkinson is a Washington DC based freelance science journalist. I met her at a freelancer workshop called Courage Camp in Colorado in August 2014, and since that time, I’ve followed her online and seen her career flourish.
• A discussion about kill fees at The Walrus -- Storified: There was an interesting discussion on the Toronto Freelance Writers and Editors email listserv earlier this week. The discussion was started by a writer who had been commissioned by The Walrus to write a feature story...
• Forum on Unpaid Internships in Vancouver on November 4: Unpaid work has become increasingly normalized over the past few years. Internships are seen as valuable opportunities that offer a way for workers — especially younger ones — to break into many different industries...
• Follow the Money -- How to Find Clients & Structure Deals for Freelance Success: The vast majority of people who have left the 9-5 grind in search of this idyllic freelance life have quickly learned that it’s not all sunshine and lollipops...

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.