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:

• Will people pay for hyper-local news? [J-Source]
• Rogers seeks buyer for magazine assets [Globe and Mail]
• Bell Media signs new long-term broadcast agreement with Vice Media [Financial Post]
• Rogers Communications seeks to sell 8 digital and print assets in a package deal [Canadian Magazines]
• CMG Firing Up Campaign for Freelancers [CWA Canada]

From The U.S. and beyond:

• How to Take Hold of the Gig Economy as a Freelance Writer [Freelance Writing Gigs]
• Awesome freelance advice: What 38 freelancers would tell their younger selves [Being Freelance]
• 200+ newspapers will write pro-journalism editorials. Will they also listen? [Poynter]
• Are You Savvy About Digital Security? [The Open Notebook]
• The meaning of freelance community [Freelancers Union]

Recently on Story Board:

• The 5-Minute Freelancer Q&A #37 -- Leanne Allen: Leanne Allen is an award-winning producer, photographer and actor based in Victoria. She produces a television program called Culture Vulture TV, which explores the arts, entertainment, lifestyle and food in the Okanagan and on Vancouver Island...
• The Born Freelancer Asks: Do We Ever Dare Take a Holiday? The fear most paramount in our minds is, of course, that during any holiday an offer of work will come up and by missing it we will lose a new wonderful revenue stream...

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.