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: 

• Announcing the winners of the 41st annual National Magazine Awards [Magazine Awards]
• How to succeed in digital journalism from the DPAs Emerging Excellence finalists [J-Source]
• The Site receives Magazine Grand Prix from the National Magazine Awards [Canadian Magazines]
• Inside a small town newsroom during a time of news poverty [J-Source]

From The U.S. and beyond:

• 5 tips for breaking the freelance feast or famine cycle [Freelancers Union]
• Why all writers should learn SEO basics [The Freelancer]
• Three clauses freelancers should know (and negotiate), according to lawyers [CJR]
• 5 financial lessons to learn early in your career [Freelancers Union]
• Global call for action to end worldwide discrimination and abuse of women journalists [IFJ]
• The 4 P's of podcasting: How to turn your idea into an audio hit [Journalism.co.uk]

Recently on Story Board:

• Systematic Editing for the Uncomfortable / Nervous / Reluctant / Insecure Editor: I recently took an all-day Eight-Step Editing workshop with my local chapter of Editors Canada. As well as nudging me into a systematic approach for editing both my own and workplace documents, I was surprised to also pick up some useful writing tips...

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.