Once a week, we gather stories about the media business, journalism, writing, communications, and freelancing—with a Canadian focus—and share them in Off the Wire. Who needs a water cooler?

From Canada:

• Unpacking CBC's Strategic Plan – The Public Broadcaster and Public Funding [CMG]
• Political cartoonists are out of touch – it’s time to make way for memes [J-Source]
• Postmedia hires former Kenney staffer to lobby Alberta government on involvement in "energy war room" [J-Source]
• Federal government names organizations that will help spend $660M journalism fund [CBC]

From The U.S. and beyond:

• Three questions every reporter should ask when covering mental health [Poynter]
• What's really in your independent services contract [Gig]
• Newsrooms must watch for burnout in young journalists [Journalism.co.uk]
• Are You Ready to Go Freelance? [HBR]
• 5 Smart Ways to Stay Afloat During a Freelance Writing Slump [The Write Life]
• Is it time to switch freelance lanes? [Freelancers Union]

Recently on Story Board:

• How to know when it's time for a refresh: Google made me do it. My website refresh has been in the back of my mind for months. I had a few changes I wanted to make, but nothing seemed urgent and the project fell off my radar...

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.