The next meeting of the Society is on Wednesday, 28 April, and will be held, as usual, in the Friends Lounge at the National Library of Australia at 6 for 6.30 p.m.
Paul Hetherington is director of publications at the National Library of Australia. He will talk about the project he is currently working on full time: editing the Donald Friend diaries.
Come along and catch up with your colleagues and friends for an interesting and informative evening.
- Next meeting
- Accreditation news
- Time to smile
- Ed Ex
- Insurance and the freelance editor
- A little of what you fancy
- The language of public and professional life
- SfEP Conference
- APA workshop
- New members
- Copy right and call for contributions
Since the launch of the Draft Report on Accreditation in July 2003, all societies have discussed the options canvassed in the report, through workshops, meetings and email feedback. Our Canberra meeting was last October. Since then, the Accreditation Working Group (AWG) has been sorting and considering all the issues raised. Similar issues were raised all over the country. These issues related to:
AWG has been working through ways of improving the accreditation proposal by taking these comments into account. On 4 April we held a teleconference to discuss progress. During the teleconference, we discussed recent working papers we have produced, including a matrix summarising national comment on the draft report, a revised version of the primary option from the draft report, an indicative budget and some comments on workplace visits.
The AWG will meet on 14-16 May in Melbourne and we hope that at this meeting we will be able to work through remaining issues, including a revised educational points scheme and a dispute resolution system. At the Melbourne meeting, the AWG will also work through actual examples of accreditation applications to test the revised proposals.
Janet Salisbury
The following are actual instructions found on the named items:
Don't forget to reserve Saturday, 5 June for the most comprehensive training day the Canberra Society of Editors has ever seen (as far as this humble member can remember).
With experts imparting their wisdom on almost every aspect of editing, it's a day that newbies and the most experienced of us can't afford to miss.
An outline of the program gives you some idea of the sheer scope of the day, and the website will contain details of speakers and their subject matter as they come to hand. The registration form is also on the website.
A bus ride there and back is available to the first 50 who register.
We need some indication of interest by the end of April. So if you think you might be attending, contact me at <cathy.nicoll@atrax.net.au>.
Cathy Nicoll
- Cost: Members $150 Non-members $250
- Venue: Madew Wines (Lake George)
- Date: 5 June 2004, 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.
Do freelance editors need insurance? It seems that government agencies, in particular, are increasingly requiring it of us. People are asked to sign contracts that stipulate anything from public liability cover of up to $10 000 000, to professional indemnity insurance, personal accident and illness insurance, loss of income insurance, and workers' compensation. For the one-person business based in a home office and with annual taxable income that is probably under $60 000 a year, these are stiff requirements.
Unfortunately, because ours is an uncommon profession, insurance companies put us into a 'miscellaneous' category, often with high-risk occupations. This means that even when a broker acts on an editor's behalf, the cost of basic cover for public liability and professional indemnity is likely to be about $2500 - $3000 a year.
Recently I talked to a lawyer at the Arts Law Centre of Australia about these contractual requirements. He explained that, while an organisation's 'standard' contract may stipulate insurance cover of various kinds, we are quite within our rights to negotiate. Indeed, I have found in some cases that, if I can talk directly to the Contracts Manager (or whoever is responsible for contracts), it is possible to have contract clauses deleted or reworded once the responsible person understands the nature of the work I am undertaking. It may mean my volunteering to accept whatever risk is involved, but it can be done. Negotiating via a project manager can work well if they are savvy, but sometimes it can just make matters more confusing. It is often difficult to know which way to play it.
Of course if the job is going to bring a substantial amount of net income, it may be worthwhile complying, at least for the duration of the contract. The Arts Law Centre's website has some useful facts sheets about contracts <http://www.artslaw.com.au/reference/infocontracts/> and public liability insurance <http://www.artslaw.com.au/reference/publicliability02/index.html>. I understand that the centre is also about to launch a book about insurance, though details are not yet available on its website.
It's worth noting too that, under some organisations' guidelines, competitive quotes and contracts are not required for jobs costing under $10 000.
Another option is to refuse to join in. It is always possible to turn work down if the conditions are unreasonable. It hurts, of course, but there is an argument for jacking up, and if enough of us were to do it, employers might have to reconsider.
A fourth option in a federal election year, when small businesses are clearly on politicians' minds, is to nag the relevant ministers. When enough of us wrote to Sensis to ask for an 'Editors and editing' category in the Yellow Pages, we were successful. It is a fact that 'standard' contracts requiring us to have insurance similar to a building contractor's or a medical practitioner's are simply inappropriate for our kind of work. Perhaps if enough of us can make the point, we may get some action. Relevant Australian government ministers are Joe Hockey, Minister for Small Business and Tourism, PO Box 1107, North Sydney NSW 2059 or <J.Hockey.MP@aph.gov.au>; Senator Nick Minchin, Minister for Finance and Administration, 423 Henley Beach Road, Brooklyn Park SA 5032 or <senator.minchin@aph.gov.au>; and Senator Helen Coonan, Minister for Revenue and Assistant Treasurer, GPO Box 3513, Sydney NSW 2001 or <senator.coonan@aph.gov.au>.
The Shadow Minister for Finance and Small Business is Bob McMullan, GPO Box 1947, Canberra ACT 2601 or <Bob.McMullan.MP@aph.gov.au>. Most states and territories have a minister responsible for small business who could also be approached.
Meantime, if you care to complete the 'Insurance' questionnaire and send it back to me, I will be happy to collate the information and publish it later in the year. If you are prepared to add your name and contact details, I won't pass them on.
Robyn Colman
Society of Editors (Tasmania) Inc.
- Robyn Colman
- 250 Churchill Avenue, Sandy Bay Tas 7005
- (03) 6225 1941
- 0422 221 885
- <words@word-wise.com.au>
1 Have you been required to take out insurance in order to fulfil a contract?
2 If 'Yes', what kind and level of cover was required?
3 Have you retained, or do you intend to retain, that insurance after completing the work?
4 Have you ever refused work because of insurance requirements?
If 'Yes', did you tell the employer why you would not take on the work?
5 Can you recommend an insurance broker or insurance company?
If 'Yes', please give details:
6 Do you have suggestions for other editors facing the insurance requirement?
7 Do you have suggestions for action that Societies of Editors could take either individually or collectively?
Thank you for making time to answer these questions. Please post your reply to Robyn Colman, 250 Churchill Avenue, SANDY BAY TAS 7005 or email it to <words@word-wise.com.au>.
The other day, a prospective client asked me to quote a 'ballpark figure' for an editing job. Well, 'basically', 'at the end of the day', I 'avoid like the plague' doing this because the figure quoted becomes the 'bottom line'. Now, I don't mind giving a rough quote 'per se', but 'personally' I'd rather 'get down to tin tacks' and work out a proper quote once I've 'scoped' the task. 'To be honest with you', 'with all due respect', I think it's a 'tad' thoughtless to ask for a rough quote and then want something more definitive later.
'It's not rocket science' to recognise that all the phrases in quotes are expressions that are in current use. The Plain English Campaign recently ran a survey among its newsletter readers to find out their most detested tiresome expressions. These expressions are just some of them. The full list is in Plain English Campaign's weekly update: 19 March 2004 (email: <pecampaign@aol.com>). Here are some that I find particularly detestable:
I wonder if there are any peculiarly Australian terms that are creeping into our writing (particularly business writing) that annoy you. If there are, why not write them down and send them to the editor of this journal? There are plenty of expressions that are used in speech - 'chewy on yer boot', 'kangaroos in the top paddock' and so on - but I can't think of any that we use in business writing - unless we still use 'shoot through' short for 'shoot through like a Bondi tram'.
Over to 'your good self'.
Elizabeth Murphy
Have you read Don Watson's recent book, Death Sentence: the decay of public language? In its 200 or so pages, Watson exposes and explains what he regards as the desecration of the English language in contemporary life, through excessive use of cliché, cant and jargon. Here's a taster:
'You will see writing of this kind wherever the influence of marketing and managerialism has seeped, which is to say pretty well everywhere. It is the language of both private and public sectors, of McDonalds, your financial institution, your library, your local member, your national intelligence organisation. It comes through your door and down your phone: in letters from public utilities, government departments, local councils, your children's school, banks, insurance companies and telephone companies, all of them telling you that their main purpose is to better address outcomes for all our customers to better achieve our goals. It will be put before you in PowerPoint presentations; it will blurt across your computer screen - sometimes with a friend's email address at the bottom. Sometimes you will see that you have written it yourself' (Watson 2003, p. 16).
According to Watson, subtle language has been eschewed in favour of what he calls 'dead words'. I think he mounts a politically important, well-supported and provocative argument. And as I write this short piece, I'm quite worried about committing the very word-crimes he condemns!
I'm also a little sceptical, however, of the way in which Watson defends the language he says we have now largely lost: 'in the old language is the old truth, the one that the writers found in the words' (p. 176). It seems to me that in the course of his discussion Watson occasionally, and nostalgically, falls back on the abstractions typical of the language he condemns. For instance, he offers the Book of Common Prayer and the King James Bible as illustrations of exemplary public language. In these works, argues Watson, public language 'is elevated language: it manifests - and honours - the traditions of the culture. In its highest form it is exemplary language, structurally and morally. It inspires respect, encourages thought and aspiration. It unifies' (p. 176).
Mmm … For me, there are a couple of problems here. First is Watson's assumption that the language he extols - which is more akin to poetry than the language of current public and professional life - speaks to all of us, that it means the same for all of us, and that it affects us all in the same way. Isn't the beauty of good, alive language, rather, that it can mean differently, affect us differently - and that it highlights the world's diversity and complexity? Secondly, in professional and public life, we do have to try and use language so that our listeners' or readers' interpretation of it at least comes close to what we intended them to understand. Of course, this is where the language of public life can differ from the language of art. However, Watson's solution to the problem of decaying language is to suggest that we respect words themselves, treat them with the reverence they deserve. (The language of religious experience scatters the pages of his text.) Following this drift, where he describes words as self-sufficient, as entities, he loses sight of why words are so important in public life. Aren't words mostly important because, when used effectively (and responsibly), they enable us to forge connections with our readers? And aren't words important because they enable us to express what is meaningful and relevant to both parties' worlds and experience, actions and dreams?
Words are addressed by writers to readers; they should not float in the ether. The language Watson condemns certainly floats in the ether; the language he advocates shouldn't.
Anne Surma
Society of Editors (WA)
Don Watson, Death Sentence: the decay of public language, Random House Australia Pty Ltd,Milsons Point NSW, 2003.
The Society for Editors and Proofreaders (SfEP) is pleased to announce its first corporate conference, specifically for in-house editors:
This important inaugural event will take place at the Business Design Centre, Islington, on 10 May 2004, and places are being booked up fast.
Working in publishing, you will be aware of the numerous conferences and training opportunities available to you. Few, however, are designed specifically for the in-house editor and few offer great value for money. Fewer still can offer the experience, credentials and quality of our experienced trainers. In creating this one-day conference, the SfEP is responding to requests from publishers for authoritative training designed for their teams, at a reasonable rate, in a first-class venue. This is the first in a planned series of corporate events.
Tailored specifically to the needs of those working in-house in publishing, this event will provide:
The workshops for "The essential editor" are (for more details, visit <http://www.sfep.org.uk>):
A good brief is the foundation of a successful project, but what makes a good brief? This workshop will advise on the structure and content of a brief, as well as the way in which it is communicated to the editor/proofreader or other subcontractor.
Have you considered using freelance suppliers for tasks other than editing, proofreading and indexing? This workshop will help you to find and build a good team of versatile and reliable editorial suppliers.
This workshop will address the advantages and disadvantages of using electronic artwork supplied by authors and how to address issues such as unsuitable file formats.
Fees: SfEP corporate associates £150 per delegate; non-SfEP members £220 incl. VAT (reduced price for three or more delegates); fee includes refreshments and lunch.
For more details and to register, visit the SfEP website (<http://www.sfep.org.uk>) or contact Sara Hulse, PR Director (tel: 01623 823002, email: <pr@sfep.org.uk>).
Sydney - Wednesday 12 May, 9.00 a.m. - 4.30 p.m.
Melbourne - Monday 24 May, 9.00 a.m. - 4.30 p.m.
Here is an opportunity to develop a skill that's vital for everyone in the publishing industry. In this one-day workshop you will develop practical ways to plan and conduct negotiations at any level, gain a better understanding of how people negotiate and make decisions, and increase your confidence in your ability to effectively negotiate and to influence the outcome.
- Introduction & Expectations
- What is negotiation and influence?
- Motivators for different personality types
- Your approach - how you use your influence
- Some critical mistakes in Influencing & Negotiating
- Building the relationship - what works
- Persuasive Language - the process of influence
- What do you actually say?
- Past Successes or Failures
- Active Listening
- Questioning techniques
- Preparation - questions to ask yourself
- What do I/we do well/not so well?
- Review & Conclusion
Amanda Phillips - JMA Training & Development
Amanda has been creating and leading training and management projects for over fourteen years. She has worked extensively as a consultant in the higher education and health sectors, with statutory authorities and within state and local government. She has worked extensively with clients such as, Anderson Consultancy, the ABC and many other private organisations - consulting on management skills, presentation skills, career development and other skills based programs. Amanda has previously conducted successful workshops for the APA in management skills; people skills and presentation skills.
Comments from previous participants of APA Management Skills workshops run by JMA: "excellent" "very useful - this information is invaluable for my role" "great practical sessions which involved every member of the group" "fluent presentation - collaborative" "good opportunity to de-construct real situations" "lively, anecdotal, memorable!" "excellent, very professional"
Editing, publishing, art directors, production staff and sales and marketing managers.
Cost (GST Inclusive): $350 Members (APA; Society of Editors; Galley Club; AGDA): $380 Non-members.. 20 per cent discount applies when five or more attend from one company.
up to Contents
The Canberra Society of Editors welcomes Christine Hayhoe, Isobel Logan and Malini Devadas as new associate members.
The Canberra Editor is published by
Canberra Society of Editors, PO Box 3222,
Manuka ACT 2603. © Canberra Society of Editors 2004. ISSN
1039-3358
The Canberra Editor is your newsletter and the editor is keen for copy from any and all members.
Remember, the more material you provide, the more this newsletter reflects the views and needs of the members. Writing for the newsletter will also improve your profile in the Canberra editing community and add material to your curriculum vitae, of great interest to prospective employees.
The deadline for the May issue is 30 April.
Mail contributions on a 3.5 inch disk, using Word for Windows (essential) or email (preferable), to:
Canberra Society of Editors,
PO Box 3222, Manuka ACT 2603
ara.nalbandian@defence.gov.au
If mailing, always provide a printout as well.