Editing Matters Magazine
Editing Matters is published by the Society for Editors and Proofreaders. The magazine communicates matters of professional and business interest to the Society's members, many of whom are small businesses. A copy can be seen at www.sfep.org.uk/pages/magazine.asp.
Until September 2003, the post of editor had been voluntary. I became the first paid editor and made improvements in key areas:
- Production: The house style was overhauled thoroughly, the editorial process moved from paper to screen and savings were made by examining costs and moving to a more suitable printer, offering better value for money without loss of service.
- Name change: In September 2004 the publication had been called Copyright. This seemed inappropriate; what was intended to indicate that the copy was right, or that the concerns of the publication were how to get copy right, backfired and the name suggested some kind of specialist legal publication. A competition was held and the name Editing Matters was chosen. The name reflects the focus of the content as well as the philosophy - that editing does matter.
- Design: The design was looking rather worn, but there was no budget for a complete redesign. Improvements were made in typography to increase the words per page without loss of readability and headings became clearer and crisper. When the name was changed, further improvements were made, particularly to the front page and contents page, giving a livelier and more professional feel to the publication.
- Content: The content is now well structured and clearly signposted, with a breadth of subject coverage, but still contains vital Society news.
Editing Matters now provides articles and information of genuine interest and enjoyment to its readership while being an excellent ambassador for the Society.