March–April 2011
The IPEd Council met twice over the period covered by these notes.
Both meetings were by teleconference. Summaries of some recent IPEd
activities follow.
Book Industry Strategy Group (BISG)
I overlooked mention in the last notes that IPEd, on behalf of the profession, made a submission to BISG earlier
in the year. The group, chaired by the Hon. Dr Barry Jones AO, has been
set up by the Department of Industry, Innovation, Science and Research
to examine the potential effects of digital technologies on participants
in the traditional supply chain of the Australian publishing industry –
authors, publishers, printers and booksellers.
In seeking further engagement with the group, and representing a
sector that plays a crucial role in maintaining the integrity of the
publishing process, IPEd’s submission noted, among other things, that no
matter to what degree our clients or employers take up digital
production or distribution, there will remain a strong need for trained,
professional editors in order to ensure high standards and quality in
the final product.
It was disappointing, frightening even, that the BISG submission form
failed to mention editors in its respondent categorisation. More or
less as usual we had to find a destination of convenience, reinforcing
that we need to promote, educate and lobby hard if we are to become a
discrete and visible group in the publishing chain.
Editing research theses
After much work by councillors, particularly Anne Surma DE (WA) who spearheaded the project, the guidelines for the editing of research theses
by professional editors have been revised, and the revision approved by
the Deans and Directors of Graduate Studies group of the Australian
universities. The revision is substantial, and all editors who work in
this field should consult the new guidelines, which can be found on the
IPEd website under ‘Resources for editors’, or accessed via a link on
your society’s website.
Barbara Ramsden Award
At the National Literary Awards ceremony in Melbourne on 25 March the
2010 Barbara Ramsden Award for excellence in editing, co-sponsored by
IPEd and the Fellowship of Australian Writers (FAW), went to the Allen
& Unwin submission Night street by Kristel Thornell, edited
by Clara Finlay. In making the award, IPEd’s judges, Pam Hewitt AE and
Craig Munro, who himself won the award in 1985, noted:
The creative relationship between editor Clara Finlay and writer
Kristel Thornell has resulted in a captivating story based on the life
of painter Clarice Beckett. Skilled editorial judgement is evident too
when Thornell’s writing breaks free of the conventional boundaries of
style. The collaboration between author and editor has resulted in
images, light and colour that inhabit and infuse the text with a
painter’s perception of the surrounding world.
In their report to FAW, the judges recorded their view that another Allen & Unwin entry Utopian man by Lisa Lang, edited by Ali Lavau, should be highly commended.
Liaison with APA
IPEd is working to strengthen linkages with the Australian Publishers
Association (APA) for mutual benefit and as a means of raising the
profile of editors in the industry. Council Chair Rosemary Luke AE (SA)
and Councillor for Victoria Rosemary Noble AE met with Dee Reed, APA
Industry Professional Development Manager, during February. APA is
interested in working with IPEd to promote each organization’s training
and professional development activities. There was interest too in the
forthcoming accreditation exam and an immediate benefit of the meeting
was that Dee publicised it in her regular email bulletin on APA and
related activities.
Accreditation exam 2011
The number of registrants is building for IPEd’s third accreditation
exam, to be held on Saturday 21 May. There are now on the website two sample exams
by which potential candidates can assess their readiness to go for the
desirable ‘AE’ postnominal. In addition, the societies are running
training workshops to help candidates prepare for the exam. Check News and your society’s website for details of these.
Revision of ASEP
A small group headed by Ted Briggs (Canberra) is proceeding with work on revision of the Australian Standards for Editing Practice.
Changes required as a result of comments on a first draft revision
circulated last year are being accommodated in a second draft, which
will, in the first instance be sent to IPEd Distinguished Editors (DEs)
for appraisal.
Article on style sheets
I draw your attention to ‘Editing with style’, an interesting and informative article by Kathie Stove DE.
A ‘members only’ area of the IPEd website, containing resources
and guidelines for editing and research, and a forum on editing
matters, will be launched shortly. Society members can sign up to access
the area; your IPEd councillor has information on this. All members of
the SA society have already joined en masse.
National conference news
The response to the call for papers for the fifth IPEd National
Conference for Editors, organised on behalf of the national body by the
Society of Editors (NSW), was such that a full and dynamic program is
assured. The conference, in Sydney, will run from Wednesday 7 to Friday 9
September. The latest draft program is available and registrations are now open, with a 20 per cent early-bird discount available until 28 May.
The organising committee has been successful in gaining support from
the CAL Cultural Fund to bring distinguished US oral history specialist
Linda Shopes to the conference as one of the conference’s four keynote
speakers, and for a bursary program to support emerging editors working
in remote locations, especially those interested in attending the
conference sessions on Indigenous editing. In her address, Linda will
reveal how the skilled oral history editor can bring to light new
voices, stories and perspectives that previously went unheard. She will
also present a one-day workshop at which editors can learn the finer
points of editing oral history.
Ed Highley
Secretary
ipedsecretary[at]gmail.com