Off The Wire: News for the Canadian media freelancer Jan 19-26

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 and the heavy price it pays to survive [Toronto Star]
• CBC’s Blanket ban on paid engagements by on-air employees a failure to manage [CMG]
• CBC bans on-air journalists from making paid appearances [Globe & Mail]
• Tom Mulcair promises to reverse funding cuts to CBC [CBC]
• Your Guide to Winter/Spring 2015 Magazine Writing Contests [Magazine Awards]
• The news, Jian and me: a conversation with Jesse Brown [J-Source]
• Pink Triangle Press shuttering print editions of Xtra [Marketing Mag]
• Jane Gerster crowdfunds year-long reporting project on missing, murdered Aboriginal women [J-Source]
• Loss of bargaining power puts journalists’ lives at risk [J-Source]

From The U.S. and beyond:

• 4 reasons clients can’t find your freelance business online [Freelancers Union]
• 5 tips for taking your freelancer headshot [The Freelancer]
• 10 reasons why freelancing is like dating [Freelancers Union]
• 8 ways to make working from home more efficient [Fast Company]
• From Full-Time to Freelance: Ready to Go It Alone? [Career Foundry]
• What Is Science Journalism Worth? [The Open Notebook]

Last week on Story Board:

• Growing Your Freelance Writing Business, Four Must-Haves for 2015: Treating your writing business like a business means getting the supports and resources in place to help you to flourish…
• Online courses and workshops for activists: Do you have an interest in activism? Are you a member of CMG Freelance? Our members are eligible to apply for a couple of upcoming training courses and workshops…

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.