Once a week, we gather stories about the media business, journalism, writing, communications, and freelancing—with a Canadian focus—and share them in Off the Wire. Who needs a water cooler?

From Canada:

• "Thunder Bay" podcast to be adapted for TV [J-Source]
• Canadian Media Is Getting A Bailout. Its Freelancers Aren’t. [Canadaland]
• Meet BIPOC of Publishing in Canada, a new industry collective looking to foster connections and support [Quill and Quire]
• Vice reporter Ben Makuch loses final bid to block RCMP demand for background material [J-Source]
• Globe and Mail staff member tweets that 79 people are taking buyouts at his newspaper [Georgia Straight]

From The U.S. and beyond:

• How to Start Writing a Book (For Real This Time) [The Write Life]
• 5 tips for balancing wellness and freelance work [Freelancers Union]
• 3 Writing Jobs You Might Not Know Existed [Freelance Writing Jobs]
• New international press card will help keep freelance journalists safe [Frontline Club]
• How to ask for feedback from editors [Open Notebook]
• Ten essential resources for nonfiction writers [The Writer Magazine]
• 4 key tips for reporting on and writing about people with disabilities [Journo Resources]
• Why you, a freelancer, deserve some guilt-free time off [Freelancers Union]

Recently on Story Board:

• Toronto Remaking Game Work Forum July 17: Join us at a public forum with game developers, media work researchers, and digital labour activists to discuss working conditions and social inequalities in the video games industry and strategies to improve conditions in digital media...

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.