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: 

• Canada's entertainment industry releases collective code of conduct [CBC]
• CWA Canada scholarships – post-secondary education or training [CMG]
• Journalism schools can fill the local news gap [J-Source]
• When the news breaks the journalist [J-Source]
• Short Grain writing contest deadline April 1 [TWUC]

From The U.S. and beyond:

• How to Lose Your Job from Sexual Harassment in 33 Easy Steps [The Atlantic]
• 3 freelance writing nuggets of wisdom for when you feel like quitting [The Write Life]
• Tip: Check out this budgeting advice for freelance journalists [Journalism.co.uk]
• 8 steps for building your writing process [Poynter]
• 15 tips for handling quotes [Poynter]
• The 8-Step Guide to Starting a Freelance Writing Business [The Write Life]
• 5 Powerful Negotiation Skills for Freelance Writers [Devon Smiley]
• The #EbonyOwes Campaign Is a Lesson For Media Everywhere [Chicago Mag]

Recently on Story Board:

• Freelancers can learn to thrive in a rapidly changing work environment: What is the future for freelance workers in Canada and around the world? The more cynical might ask: do freelancers even have a future? The answer to that is an optimistic and unequivocal “yes,” according to an international panel of speakers at the “The Future of Freelance” workshop...
• Fighting for copyright: Have you ever had your copyright violated? How did you react? I had this issue a few years ago. I didn’t take it well. My consternation drove me to waste time creating Google alerts for a bunch of my published articles. I’ve been thinking that there has to be a better way...

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.