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: 

• Why trauma and mental health must be discussed in journalism schools [J-Source]
• 3 tips for crafting a winning story from former CBC Nonfiction Prize winner Carrie Mac [CBC Books]
• Statement from VICE Canada Union after the NYTimes article [CMG]
• Opinion: A year of reckoning looms for Canada's newspapers [J-Source]

From The U.S. and beyond:

• A survival guide to international freelancing [CJR]
• End of the Year Business Tips for Freelance Writers [The Write Life]
• 12 books that can help you be a better writer in 2018 [Ann Handley]
• If you want to write a book, John McPhee's advice is indispensable [Poynter]
• I Started the Media Men List [The Cut]

Recently on Story Board:

• Webinar -- Reporting on Labour Issues with Sara Mojtehedzadeh: When Toronto Star reporter Sara Mojtehedzadeh went undercover on the croissant production line in a Toronto factory, she learned firsthand what workers were experiencing...
• The Born Freelancer on Making New Year's Resolutions: You could say that dreams constitute our raw material. They creatively nourish us and keep most of us moving forward. It’s just that making them into a resolution this time of year tends to add an unnecessary extra weight to them that few of us can comfortably shoulder...

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.