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: 

• Postmedia launches new advertising division [J-Source]
• Global safety recommendations fail to arm freelancers with necessary supports [J-Source]
• Desmond Cole on writing about the skin he's in [J-Source]
• 5 Seriously Dumb Myths About Copyright the Media Should Stop Repeating [Medium]
• 2015 Kenneth R. Wilson awards nominees announced [J-Source]
• Western Magazine Awards suspended? [Canadian Magazines]

 

From The U.S. and beyond:

• How self-publishing on LinkedIn can elevate your professional profile [Mashable]
• Indemnity clauses leave freelancers open to lawsuits [Poynter]
• 7 questions to answer BEFORE you crowdfund your art [Freelancers Union]
• How to Overcome Social Anxiety When You Work From Home [The Write Life]
• 5 tips every first-time freelancer needs to know [Freelancers Union]
• Ask a Freelancer: My Work Just Dried Up. What Do I Do? [The Freelancer]
• Financial tips for freelancers who don't like dealing with finance [Freelancers Union]
• What Literary Agents Want to See Before Signing With a Writer [The Write Life]

 

Last week on Story Board:

• Writer Scott Carney launches WordRates & PitchLab Kickstarter: Last Friday, Scott Carney launched a Kickstarter campaign for a two-pronged website project called WordRates & PitchLab, which aims to improve working conditions and rates for freelance writers...
• Business Skills For Your Arts Career weekend workshop: The business side of a creative career can be difficult to manage. But if you’re a CMG Freelance member in Toronto, there’s an upcoming weekend workshop on business skills for self-employed artists that will help...

 

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.