Off The Wire: News for the Canadian media freelancer Mar 3-8

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:

• Alberta Magazine Awards 2015 [Alberta Magazines]
• Star to end paid digital subscriptions on April 1 [Toronto Star]
• Why the CBC’s Amanda Lang Review is Horseshit [Canadaland]
• The long goodbye to Canadian alt-weeklies [J-Source]
• CBC review concludes Amanda Lang met journalistic standards [Globe and Mail]
• Torstar reports flat profit, as Toronto Star readies tablet edition [Globe and Mail]
• Star awarded 2015 Canadian Hillman Prize for investigative reporting on sexual assault [J-Source]
• As paid work dwindles for student journalists, retail isn’t looking so bad [J-Source]

From The U.S. and beyond:

• Your “just for fun” projects are what set you apart [99u]
• McDonald’s asks indie band to play for free during SXSW [Dangerous Minds]
• Priced Out: Why I Can No Longer Afford a Career in Writing [The Toast] (via @thewritelife)
• 5 Newsletters Every Freelancer Should Subscribe To [The Freelancer]
• How playing nice with others helps freelancers succeed [Freelancers Union]
• Want More Writing Jobs? Create a Referral Network of Freelancers [The Write Life]
• 10 fast ways become a better writer [One Month] (via @thewritelife)
• 5 New Things Every Journalist Should Have [Newscastic]
• Freelance Writers Need Vacations, Too. Here’s How to Take One [The Write Life]
• Survival strategies of an online freelancer [CJR]

Last week on Story Board:

• The 5-Minute Freelancer Q&A #19 — Joanne Will: Joanne Will is a Toronto-based writer who has written for publications such as the Globe and Mail and The Tyee about everything from food history, to music, to literature, to cars and driving…
• Ali Mustafa Memorial Fundraiser: Ali Mustafa was a Toronto-based freelance photojournalist who was killed while working in Syria on March 9th, 2014. Shortly after his death, a group of his friends and colleagues set up the Ali Mustafa Memorial Collective to honour his life by offering an annual award for freelancers…

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.