Off The Wire: News for the Canadian media freelancer April 8-14

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: 

• What does the future hold for the CBC? [Globe and Mail]
• New Torstar code of businesses raises conundrums for journalists [J-Source]
• 5 fundamentals journalists must understand about Twitter [J-Source]
• Alberta Magazines Conference: Session videos, award winners [Masthead]
• Worker deaths prompt call for better safety standards in unscripted TV sector [Rabble]
• CBC to cut 657 jobs, will no longer compete for professional sports rights [CBC]
• The importance of public broadcasting [J-Source]
• CUP restructures further, relinquishes control of NASH conference [J-Source]
• We’re asking the wrong question about the CBC [Globe and Mail] (via @karenatcmg)
• Can Uni Press down to a single staffer as restructuring continues [Canada.com] (via @wolfewylie)
  
• The End of Internships [Canadaland]
• The Art of the Elevator Pitch [CBC]

From the U.S. and beyond:

• 7 Tips For Freelancers To Stay Organized [Business Insider] (via @freelance_hacks)
• What are the key digital skills for those entering journalism? [Journalism.co.uk]
• Student newspapers move to mobile as interest in print wanes [Poynter]
• Five One-Hour Routines That Will Improve Your Life as a Freelancer [Lifehacker]
• Freelancer pay jumps, in search for quality work [CNN Money]
• Don’t get mad, get paid: 6 Invoice apps for freelancers [Freelancers Union]
• How the Ups and Downs of Writing Can Improve Your Craft [The Write Life]
• How to find good-paying clients online [Freelancers Union]
• How To Make Working From Home More Productive [Fast Company] (via @ECRMagazine)
• How to find freelance clients with cash [The Freelance Strategist]
• How to Become a Successful Freelancer in 6 Months [Policy Mic] (via @freelancersu)

This week on Story Board:

• Angela West — a Q&A with the founder of Canadian Freelance Writing Jobs: Every day, Angela West does a generous thing for young Canadian writers. She gets up, has her coffee, and spends 15 or 20 minutes gathering job listings from around the web and aggregating them on her own website, Canadian Freelance Writing Jobs…
• Podcasting patent threatens independent media: Like blogging and web video, podcasting has matured in recent years – from nerdy niche to viable independent media platform. Marc Maron is one success story: the interviews he conducts from his garage in LA go out to a massive online following. But now Maron and thousands of other independent podcasters are under threat from a company claiming to own the entire concept of podcasting…

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.