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: 

• Black Press to print Calgary Sun; 52 Postmedia positions to be eliminated [CTV News]
• How youth activism is kicking unpaid internships to the curb [The Conversation]
• Canadian journalism students’ interest in journalism careers lessens during course of journalism school [J-Source]
• Non-profit sector aims to create Canada’s first national, portable retirement plan [Toronto Star]

From The U.S. and beyond:

• Eight 21st Century Tips for Writing Better Articles [Freelance Writing Jobs]
• The Freelancer's Guide to Building a Home Office That Works [The Freelancer]
• The New Yorker Joins a Growing List of Media Companies to Unionize [New York Times]
• The secret ingredient to being a freelancer: Being yourself [Being Freelance]
• How to get faster payments from your clients [Freelancers Union]

Recently on Story Board:

• Freelancers invited to VICE networking event in Toronto June 14: The event will be a chance for freelancers at all stages of their careers to speak with editors and participate in a panel discussion about careers in journalism and freelancing... 
• Largest-ever freelance delegation attends 2018 CMG convention: CMG Freelance’s six executive members plus five delegates and one observer spent time together in branch meetings and participated in the union’s plenary sessions...

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.