Staheli establishes peer-support group for early-career editors
Book editor Jessica Staheli has announced the establishment of the Young Book Editors Association Melbourne (YBEA).
Staheli, who works at Dean Publishing, said the informal group currently has 6 members and hopes to attract more. “We are currently in the foundation phase and are gathering expressions of interest from early-career editors (approximately 0 to 5 years’ experience) across Melbourne,” said Staheli, adding that experience, rather than age, was the criterion for membership. “Initially I thought the definition would be age (under 35), but then I expanded it to be more inclusive and have decided it will be early-career editors.”
Staheli said the aim of the group was to offer “monthly social mixers and advice-sharing for junior editors and editorial assistants”, low-cost professional development opportunities and guest speaker sessions.
“While I work in a great team at Dean Publishing, the other editors are much more established in their careers,” said Staheli of the impetus to form the group. “Essentially, there was no space for young, early-career editors to come together and talk openly about our experiences with people who understand exactly where we’re coming from because they are experiencing it too. For example, having a conversation about AI with a person my age whose entire career has AI looming over it will be very different to speaking to an editor who is on the tail end of their career and has less skin in the game when it comes to AI implementation.”
While the group’s planned events are in person, Staheli said online might be added in future. “I think cultivating IRL connections is super important, but I do recognise accessibility for rural editors is also important, so I will endeavour to create an online environment further down the track where recordings of our lectures/workshops can be available as well as areas for group discussions.”
The group’s first meeting is planned for late May. Expressions of interest can be made here.
Category: Local news
