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:

• When a reporter has to make the ‘Death Knock’ [J-Source]
• Volunteering for the sake of the industry, Martin Seto has some things to say [Canadian Magazines]
• Why Canadian journalists have to care about online security [J-Source]
• Mastheadonline to become "volunteer based community website" [Canadian Magazines]
• Ricochet Sued For Defamation By Montreal Columnist Over Satirical Obituary [Canadaland]
• 10 months into strike, Chronicle Herald union file labour board complaint [J-Source]

From The U.S. and beyond:

• How Anne Lamott Helped This Woman Beat Writer's Block [The Write Life]
• Looking for freelance advice? Meet Manjula Martin [The Freelance Beat]
• Teaching journalism after election a tricky endeavor [Columbia Journalism Review]
• Nonprofit Journalism Groups Are Gearing Up With Flood of Donations [New York Times]
• Lessons in Freelancing: What to Do When Stiffed On Payment [Mediabistro]
• Guardian announces partnership with Vice [The Guardian]
• 3 reasons why every woman should consider freelancing in her lifetime [Freelancers Union]
• These two stats from The New York Times should give newspapers hope [Poynter]
• 3 simple ways to self-care during stressful times [Freelancers Union]
• Behind the Times’ surge to 2.5 million subscribers [Politico]
• Oxford literary festival agrees to pay authors, ending 'work for nothing' row [The Guardian]
• Getty Images/iStock to slash freelance royalties by up to 93% [Freelancers Union]

Recently on Story Board:

• Edmonton media outlet Taproot pays the writers: Karen Unland is appalled by publishers that don’t pay their freelancers. The co-founder of the brand new Edmonton media outlet Taproot says relying on unpaid writers is the sign of a broken business model...
• National Magazine Awards Foundation announces new categories, Freelancer Support Fund: The National Magazine Awards Foundation announced a revamped set of categories last week that are designed to increase the value and prestige of the awards...

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.