IPEd Notes August 2009
News from the Institute of Professional Editors Limited
August 2009
The big news at the beginning of this month was that the 2009accreditation examination will go ahead on Saturday 12 September. There aresome 90 registrants for the exam, 13 of them not being members of a society ofeditors. Clearly, the value of having ‘AE' after one's name is being recognised.
The IPEd Council met by teleconference on Sunday 2 August. The budgetfor 2009-10 was a major topic of discussion. The Institute is in a financialposition that will allow it to fund routine activities and current projects.However, to implement major future projects such as, for example, the researchand development of on-screen and online exams and training materials, we will almostcertainly need to find support from outside funding bodies.
Another topic discussed was the report of the survey of membersconducted earlier this year by Rosemary Noble, the Society of Editors (Victoria)councillor, on behalf of the IPEd Council. This is an interesting andilluminating document that identifies, among other things, the wide range ofactivities that the members of the societies would like to see IPEd engage in.A copy of the report is on the IPEd website.
The council endorsed a letter to be sent to Peter Garrett, Minister forthe Environment, Heritage and the Arts, expressing IPEd's concern about the possibleimplementation of the recommendations of the recent Productivity Commission (PC)research report ‘Restrictions on the parallel importation of books'. A copy ofthe letter is on the website.
The main recommendation is that:
TheGovernment should repeal Australia'sParallel Import Restriction (PIRs) for books. The repeal should take effectthree years after the date that it is announced.
The council believes that such a move would have a severe negativeimpact on many people in all areas of Australian publishing, starting with localauthors and flowing through to editors, book designers and typesetters,publishers, paper suppliers, printers and booksellers. The sole benefit promotedby the PC is a reduction in book prices, which we are not convinced will occur.
Our South Australian colleagues are working hard, refining the programand logistics for the 4th IPEd National Editors Conference to be held in Adelaide on 8-10 October2009. Registrations are already well above 100. The latest program can be foundat <www.editors-sa.org.au> or via the IPEd website. There are somewonderful speakers, and just about every presentation has an intriguing title.You'll want to be there.
Ed Highley
Secretary
