Rows of desks face a projection screen in a classroom-like environment.
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September 26, 2015: Creating Compelling Web Content with Lisa Manfield

What: Editors BC professional development seminar
When: Saturday, September 26, 2015, 9:00 am–4:00 pm
Where: Segal Building, SFU, 500 Granville Street, Vancouver | map

As Web readers become more and more difficult to attract — and keep — on your website, how can today’s Web editors ensure that their digital content engages online audiences? Effective Web editing comes down to three key strategies — understanding Web readers, knowing enough about search optimization to ensure copy is found, and making the most of social media sharing.

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A Tribute to John Eerkes-Medrano

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by Nancy Flight

Editors and writers across the country were saddened to learn of the death of long-time EAC member John Eerkes-Medrano, on June 15, at the age of 64. Born in Groningen, the Netherlands, he spent his early years in Edmonton and later worked in Toronto and then Victoria.

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Transcribe and Discover First World War Diaries and Letters

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Written by Stephanie Warner; copy edited by Michael Ferreira

Are you curious about others’ lives?

Can you read old handwriting?

Do you have good attention to detail?

Do you want to make history more accessible?

If you answered “yes,” then the Royal BC Museum’s Transcribe project is for you!

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Panellists Needed for Word Vancouver

by Shelagh Jamieson, Communications & Social Media Chair

Volunteers needed!

EAC-BC will be participating in Word Vancouver again this year. In addition to having a booth, we will be sponsoring a one-hour panel discussion on editing as a career. We need 4–5 volunteers to sit on the panel. We are looking for editors working in diverse fields and environments: freelance, in-house, traditional and self-publishing, academic, corporate, government, etc. Whatever your area of specialization, if you are comfortable talking about what you do and how you came to be there, and then answering some questions from the public, please contact bccsm@editors.ca by July 8, 2015. Please include a brief description of the kind of editing you do, to help us with the selection process.

The event will take place on Sunday, September 27 (time TBD), at the Vancouver Public Library downtown. This is a great opportunity to encourage people to consider a career in editing and to join EAC. You will also benefit from the chance to network, meet potential clients, have some fun, and check out Word Vancouver.

Word Vancouver is Western Canada’s largest celebration of literacy and reading. The festival promotes books and authors with workshops, free exhibits, performances, and hands-on activities for a wide range of ages and interests. More info on Word Vancouver is available at wordvancouver.ca.

EAC-BC is a volunteer-based organization, and without your help, we can’t promote our craft. Please consider volunteering an hour of your time at this popular event.

EAC Loses Long-Time Member

JEM SFU 2009It was with great sadness that EAC-BC learned of the death of long-time member John Eerkes-Medrano (Victoria) on June 15, 2015. Those of us who had just seen, spoken to, eaten with and joked with John at the EAC conference in Toronto know that he spent his last days surrounded by his tribe: editors from across Canada who liked and respected him, who admired his work and valued his sincerity, who collaborated with him and sought to emulate him. We will miss him deeply.

A memorial page has been set up for John. Friends and colleagues are invited to leave comments there.

UPDATE: A celebration of life will be held on Friday, June 26, at 3:30 p.m., at the Multifaith Chapel, University of Victoria. In lieu of flowers/gifts, donations can be made to the people of Gambell, Alaska, via IRA Tribal Office by cheque to the IRA Tribal Office, P.O. Box 90, Gambell, AK, USA 99742. Or phone 907-985-5346 ext. 3. Ask for Eddie or Ruby. Alternately, please donate to the two local churches, Gambell Presbyterian or Seventh Day Adventist.

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PubPro 2015: Session Summaries (Part 2)

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On April 25, EAC-BC co-hosted PubPro 2015, an unconference for managing editors and publication production specialists. We previously featured a recap of the event and part 1 of the session summaries. Part 2 of the session summaries follows.

Written by Amy Haagsma; copy edited by Meagan Kus

Change management: A guided discussion led by Chantal Moore

Chantal Moore is communications manager at the BC Council for International Education, a Crown corporation that facilitates international student exchanges. She was interested in discussing best practices for managing change.

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PubPro 2015: Event Recap and Session Summaries (Part 1)

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On April 25, EAC-BC co-hosted PubPro 2015, the third annual unconference for managing editors and publication production specialists. A recap of the event and part 1 of the session summaries are below; part 2 is available here.

Event recap

by Iva Cheung

For the third year in a row, EAC-BC teamed up with Publishing@SFU to host PubPro, an unconference for managing editors, production professionals, and anyone who manages publication projects.

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Member Interview: Margaret Shaw

Written by Frances Peck; copy edited by Karen Barry

Margaret ShawMargaret Shaw is a Coquitlam-based writer and editor of mostly scientific and technical material, ranging from manuals and books, to reports and procedures. Besides EAC, she belongs to Plain Language Association International and the Society for Technical Communication. She holds EAC certifications in structural and stylistic editing and copy editing.

You’re kind of an earth girl, Margaret. Your B.Sc. was half in geology and your M.Sc. was in earth sciences and hydrogeology. What (on earth) led you to editing and writing?

I suppose I came full circle. I wrote my first book in Grade 1, at my teacher’s request. It was called In the Hospital and was a detailed account of having my tonsils out. It was bound with green construction paper folded in two and stapled.

I consider my dad, who was a chemist, to be my first and most important writing teacher, even though he never knowingly taught me anything about writing. He has always been a great natural writer and fantastic at explaining the essence of things simply. My mum, who was a nurse, was the one I asked about spelling. I remember how pleased she seemed as she spelled out words.

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Event Review: Transcription, Captioning, and Subtitling: An Introduction for Editors

Written by Amy Haagsma; copy edited by Karen Barry

Recap of EAC-BC’s branch meeting on April 15, 2015.

Last month, Kelly Maxwell spoke to EAC members and guests about the fascinating world of transcription, captioning, and subtitling. Kelly is co-owner and co-founder of Vancouver-based Line 21 Media Services, which provides services to the television and film industry. Line 21 works primarily with post-production coordinators, who shepherd television shows and movies through editing, colour correction, and distribution.

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Event Review: Writers on Editors: An Evening of Eavesdropping

Written by Amy Haagsma; copy edited by Meagan Kus

Recap of EAC-BC’s branch meeting on March 18, 2015.

On March 18, EAC-BC hosted authors Margo Bates and Daniel Francis for a panel discussion about working with editors. Jenny Lee, a writer, editor, and digital journalist with the Vancouver Sun, moderated, adding details of her own experience and encouraging questions from the audience.

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