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 39th National Magazine Awards [Magazine Awards]
• National Observer goes behind paywall [J-Source]
• Canada Periodical Fund changing with the times [J-Source]
• There is journalism beyond journalism [J-Source]
• Vice Canada workers have voted to join a union—now what?  [J-Source]
• The Next Phase of Commenting at CBC [CBC]
• Chronicle Herald salary offer not 'richest' in Atlantic Canada [CBC]

From The U.S. and beyond:

• 3 ways to be more productive when you sit down to write [The Write Life]
• 28 life hacks that every freelancer should do now [Freelancers Union]
• Gawker Media files for bankruptcy [Poynter]
• 10 productivity hacks for procrastination-prone writers [Freelancers Union]
• Keeping Tabs on Who Pays Writers [National Writers Union]
• 8 Productivity Habits Of The Most Successful Freelancers [Fast Company]
• 6 Ways to Make Time to Write: A Guide for Busy Parents [The Write Life]
• Associated Press Rolls Out Native Advertising Agency [IB Times]
• How to create a pitch log using Trello [Journalism.co.uk]

Last week on Story Board:

• Advice on finding work and selling your skills from the Beyond Journalism panel: Last week freelance journalists came together at the Page One café to discuss life beyond journalism. The event, put on by CWA Canada and CMG Freelance, saw panelists discuss the importance, in the ever-changing media world, of using journalism skills in careers within and beyond media...
• Freelancers represent at the 2016 CMG convention: Last weekend media workers from across Canada came together in Toronto to discuss working conditions and the future of our industry. The biennial Canadian Media Guild convention took place on June 4th and 5th at the Holiday Inn Yorkdale. And freelancers, as always, were part of the event...
• CMG plans to raise freelance issues at Vice Canada bargaining table: A staff representative from the Canadian Media Guild says the union plans to address the working conditions of freelancers and temporary workers at Vice Canada when collective bargaining negotiations begin...

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.