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:

• Vancouver Island’s Alberni Valley Times to close [J-Source]
• Rogers Media to "reimagine" Next Issue subscription service as Texture [Canadian Magazines]
• Independent journalist Joey Coleman to revive his Independent Record [J-Source]
• On My Own: The Challenge of Freelance Isolation [Living Freelance]
• The Globe wins at 2015 Online Journalism Awards [J-Source]

From The U.S. and beyond:

• Half of U.S. freelancers wouldn't take a job no matter what [TechCrunch]
• How to Use Facebook Groups to Find Your Next Freelance Writing Gig [The Write Life]
• This is what the state of freelancing in the U.S. means for the future of work [Fast Company]
• 6 tips for getting gigs as a freelance journalist [Poynter]
• 22 Places to Write When You’re Tired of Working at Home [The Write Life]
• Should you be friends with your clients? [Freelancers Union]
• 9 tools to help you record and transcribe interviews [The Write Life]

Last week on Story Board:

• The 5-Minute Freelancer Q&A #24 -- Caitlin Kelly: Caitlin Kelly is a Canadian writer based in New York City. She has been writing for clients such as The New York Times, Smithsonian, More, and Marie Claire for over 20 years...

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.