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Society of Editors (Victoria) Inc.


Next dinner meetings

Wednesday, 3 December 2008

Christmas festivities, games and a marvellous meal

Join us at our special south-of-the-Yarra venue to celebrate another busy and eventful year, with marvellous food, free glass of bubbly on arrival, and drinks at bar prices.

The evening will also include the Second Annual Society of Editors Spicks and SBooks quiz tournament, with games such as Match the Book Titles, But What Did His Mum Call Him? and Cover Art. Lots of laughs and plenty of opportunities to be word-savvy and share your book knowledge.

(Special thanks to Aunty ABC, Adam Hills et al. Spicks and SBooks takes its inspiration from the much less exclusive but certainly more musical quiz show Spicks and Specks.)

Wednesday, 3 December 2008
6.30 pm for 7.00 pm
English Speaking Union, 146 Toorak Road West (between Walsh and Marne Streets)
South Yarra (Melway 2L 4E)

Booking details...

Note: These details are subject to change.


First IPEd accreditation exam

The first national IPEd accreditation exam was held on 18 October 2008. All exams around Australia were held concurrently. Well done to all those who sat the exam in Victoria. Exam results will be distributed within six weeks of the exam.

To obtain further information, contact your Accreditation Board delegate (Julie-Anne Justus, at iped_accred@socedvic.org).

For more information about IPEd, visit their website at: www.iped-editors.org


Freelance Register 2008-09

The 2008-09 Freelance Register has now been published online with bookmarks (PDF* 3.25 MB) and without (PDF* 756 KB). The hard copy will be printed and mailed out in November.

More information about the Register.


IPEd is seeking a Company Secretary

The Institute of Professional Editors (IPEd) Limited was incorporated in January 2008. IPEd’s mission is to advance the profession of editing. It is owned by member associations of editors in the six states and the ACT. For more information about IPEd, go to <www.iped-editors.org.au>.

IPEd invites applications for the position of Company Secretary. The Secretary services the IPEd Council in its work, with outsourced accounting and legal support.

The successful applicant will be employed as a freelance contractor, working from their own premises. The estimated requirement is for an average of 15 to 20 hours per month, at $60 per hour including GST.

Applicants will need to have an ABN or ACN. Applications close on 30 November 2008.

Selection criteria and a duty statement for the position can be obtained by emailing the Chair of the Council, Virginia Wilton. Her email address is <virginia@whh.com.au>. Please use the following message line: IPEd Company Secretary position_yoursurname_yourfirstinitial.


Results of the 4th National Survey of Editors

Snapshot of Australian editing in 2007

Freelance editor, writer and trainer Pamela Hewitt has kindly provided us with her report on the fourth national survey of editors, which was conducted at the May 2007 conference held in Hobart. Pamela writes, ‘There were 132 responses to the survey, an increase on the responses to the third national survey of editors, carried out in October 2005 at the Melbourne conference. These surveys are the only comprehensive, national collection of information about editors. Although participation at national conferences is not necessarily representative of all editors, they are excellent opportunities to gather national data and views, and they provide a snapshot of the profession. To allow comparison over the four surveys, the same questions were asked, where possible.’

The results make for interesting reading (PDF* 80 KB).


National Award for Excellence in Editing

The Barbara Ramsden Award was created in 1971 by the Fellowship of Australian Writers. It commemorates Barbara Ramsden MBE, the legendary editor at Melbourne University Press 1941-71, whose expertise underpinned much of the authority in scholarship that MUP enjoyed during that period.

The Ramsden is a major literary award for a book of quality writing in any field of literature. Awarded jointly to author and publisher’s editor, it recognises the combined effort of both parties to achieve the final result. Entries must include a short commentary from the author or publisher explaining how the editor contributed to the final result. Entries are judged by a panel of senior editors appointed by the Institute of Professional Editors.

The award consists of bronze plaques designed by renowned sculptor and medallionist Andor Meszaros, which show the Origin of Art, with the creator at work and a figure representing the forces that ensure its effective communication. The Institute of Professional Editors and the Society of Editors (Vic.) Inc. are joint sponsors of the award with the Fellowship of Australian Writers.

The Ramsden was presented annually from 1971 to 1994, and again from 2007. Editors who have won it include John Bangsund, Sue Ebury, Shirley Purchase, Lee White, Janet Mackenzie, Wendy Sutherland.

Entries open on 1 September 2008 and close on 30 November. For details see the FAW’s quarterly, The Australian Writer, www.writers.asn.au/uploads/file/mag/TAW357.pdf


4th IPEd National Editors Conference

8-10 October 2009, Adelaide

Don't forget the 4th National Editors Conference, Getting the message across, to be held in Adelaide in October 2009. Visit the conference website for the latest information on the conference.


Other news and items of interest

Dear Ed

In this column, Ed answers some FAQs and curly ones about the ins and outs of the editing profession. The October letter is online now.

Facebook us!

Join us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=21239012776 or search for Society of Editors (Victoria). See photos from recent Society events, connect with other editors or check out upcoming events.

Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance

The Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance is continuing to offer a discount to Society members.

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The Society of Editors (Victoria) Inc. is an association for people who are engaged professionally in editing for publication.
The Society is a member of the Institute of Professional Editors Limited (IPEd)
© 2008 Society of Editors (Victoria) Inc. | Last updated: 20 November, 2008