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:

• Government funding for journalism: to what end? [J-Source]
• Ratification vote next week – CMG-CBC tentative agreement [CMG]
• Rogers Media is out of magazine business as it agrees to sell all remaining titles to St. Joe's [Canadian Magazines]
• Toronto Life owner St. Joseph Communications to buy Rogers magazines [Globe and Mail]
• Media companies on notice over traumatized journalists after landmark court decision [J-Source]
• Media union welcomes federal aid for news industry, cautions about possible loophole [CMG]
• Here's why Concordia students are striking against school internship policies [J-Source]

From The U.S. and beyond:

• Research from Canada suggests journalists’ creed can withstand government support [Nieman Lab]
• Why are digital newsrooms organizing now? [Nieman Lab]
• Global media back call for UN to adopt convention on safety of journalists [IFJ]
• When freelancing and friendship don't mix: a cautionary tale [Freelancers Union]
• Double Your Freelance Writing Income: 5 Ways to Make it Happen [The Write Life]
• For the record: 18 journalists on how—or whether—they use tape recorders [CJR]

Recently on Story Board:

• CWA Canada seeks writer for union history project: CWA Canada, the country’s only all-media union, is looking for a journalist/writer to research and write a 50-page booklet on the history of the union...
• Applications open for the 2019 Forum Freelance Fund hostile environment training bursaries: The deadline for this annual competition is April 13 2019. Winners of the bursaries (worth up to $2500) will be notified by May 31 and will have up to two months to choose a hostile environment training course from an approved provider...

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.