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:

• Announcing the Winners of the 40th Anniversary National Magazine Awards [Magazine Awards]
• The Changing Workplace Review calls for protection for urban workers [Urban Worker Project]
• Omar Mouallem on the art of reflection [J-Source]
• Four more freelancers in danger zones win hostile environment training bursaries [Canadian Journalism Forum on Violence and Trauma]

From The U.S. and beyond:

• Conduct a better phone interview: Check out these 3 recording apps [The Write Life]
• 3 automated transcription tools for journalists [Journalism.co.uk]
• Freelancing and the racial divide [Freelancers Union]
• 5 tips for applying to writing fellowships and residencies [The Write Life]
• Applying to get funding for a journalism project? Here are some helpful tips [Journalism.co.uk]
• The unpredictable freelance life: expecting the unexpected [Freelancers Union]
• A new website is calling out companies who fail to pay creatives' invoices [Fashion Journal]

Recently on Story Board:

• Webinar: Tax Tips and Financial Planning for Freelancers: Join us for a webinar called Tax Tips and Financial Planning for Freelancers on Monday, June 5 at 3:00 p.m. E.T. and start to learn how to run your sole-proprietorship finances...
• New webinar on extended health benefits plan for freelancers: Membership in CMG Freelance gives you access to a non-profit extended health care benefits package. And there’s a new webinar on the CMG Freelance website that explains the costs and benefits of the plan...

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.