News, events, tips and updates for members of the Editors’ Association of Canada
In this issue:
1. CONFERENCE 2013: Meet our keynote speakers
2. PRESIDENT’S AWARD: Tell us about EAC’s stellar volunteers
3. BLOG: Seeking French posts for The Editors’ Weekly
4. EAC CERTIFICATION: Marketing copywriters and researchers wanted
5. MEMBER NEWS: Tell the world about your recent accomplishment
6. SHOP EAC: Fun merch for your workspace
1. CONFERENCE 2013: Meet our keynote speakers
We are thrilled to announce that two well-known personalities and authors, Robert MacNeil and Donna Morrissey, will be the keynote speakers at our 2013 conference. A warm welcome to:
Robert MacNeil: Opening keynote speaker
Born in Montreal and raised in Halifax, Robert MacNeil graduated from Carleton University in Ottawa in 1955. He began working in the news field at ITV in London, then for Reuters and then for NBC as a correspondent in Washington, DC, and New York City. Beginning in 1967, he also covered American and European politics for the BBC.
MacNeil rose to fame during his coverage of the Senate Watergate hearings for PBS, for which he won an Emmy. This helped lead to his most famous news role, working with Jim Lehrer to create The MacNeil/Lehrer Report in 1975.
MacNeil has written several books, some about his career as a journalist, and has also dabbled in writing fiction. His books include Breaking News; Burden of Desire; Looking for My Country: Finding Myself in America; and Wordstruck: A Memoir.
Donna Morrissey: Closing keynote speaker
Donna Morrissey is the award-winning author of Kit’s Law, Downhill Chance, What They Wanted and Sylvanus Now, which was shortlisted for the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize. She recently wrote a children’s book, Cross Katie Kross, illustrated by her daughter, Bridget. Her latest novel is The Deception of Livy Higgs. Morrissey grew up in The Beaches, a small fishing outport in Newfoundland, and now lives in Halifax.
According to The Globe and Mail, “Morrissey stands out for her descriptive powers, her wonderful turns of phrase and the inner complexities of her characters.”
Remember to register early and save
Register by April 12 to take advantage of special early-bird discounts. Check the conference website for the latest updates, as well as Twitter (@eacconference, LinkedIn, Facebook, the email forum (listserv for EAC members) and EAC’s e-blasts.
2. PRESIDENT’S AWARD: Tell us about EAC’s stellar volunteers
EAC does some pretty amazing work. Among other things, we publish standards and books on editing, administer a professional certification program and host an annual conference. From chairing committees to staffing registration desks, it’s the volunteers who keep things running from start to finish.
The EAC President’s Award for Volunteer Service is one way we thank our volunteers for keeping this organization functioning. We’re really proud that this association is run by volunteers, and that many of the services we provide wouldn’t happen if people didn’t pitch in to do the work.
We’re now accepting nominations for the President’s Award. From the nominations received, one outstanding volunteer will receive the Lee d’Anjou Volunteer of the Year Award.
Any member of the association can be nominated for the award. To nominate someone for the President’s Award, send a letter (100 to 300 words—short is good) describing the candidate’s volunteer service. The letter must be signed by at least three EAC members. For complete guidelines, please visit the President’s Award page.
The deadline for nominations is April 14, 2013.
Send nominations to
EAC President’s Award for Volunteer Service
505–27 Carlton St.
Toronto, ON M5B 1L2
Fax: 416 975-1637
Email: presidents_office@editors.ca (subject line: Nomination, EAC President’s Award for Volunteer Service)
3. BLOG: Seeking French posts for The Editors’ Weekly
Twelve author/editors have already contributed to The Editors’ Weekly, which generally posts every Tuesday. We are especially looking for blog posts in French. If you are interested in writing a blog post on matters of editorial interest in French, please contact the blog’s managing editor, Susan Bond, at blog@editors.ca.
February 25 to March 1 was Freedom to Read Week. Two blog posts addressed this topic from different perspectives, and we were happy they generated some discussion in the readers’ comments. We encourage members to visit the blog regularly and leave comments if inspired. You may also now subscribe via email or RSS feed to receive alerts whenever a new blog is posted.
Watch for Dispatches from an Editorial Intern, by Kate Icely, who will be writing from the trenches of the publishing world and documenting her impressions as a neophyte editor, newly minted from the Ryerson Publishing Program.
4. EAC CERTIFICATION: Marketing copywriters and researchers wanted
EAC Certification is the only program in the world that evaluates editors’ excellence. It’s also the result of more than 20 years of hard work by EAC volunteers dedicated to promoting and maintaining high professional standards of editing, helping editors develop professionally, and enhancing the status of editing as a profession in Canada.
We’re looking for volunteer copywriters to help us get the word out about this important program. Volunteers will write e-blast copy, ads, profiles and articles. We’re also looking for members to help compile lists of like-minded organizations. Volunteers will gain practical copywriting and interviewing experience for a national marketing campaign.
If you’d like to get involved in marketing certification, contact EAC’s certification communications project manager, Alison Matthews, at certification_comms@editors.ca.
5. MEMBER NEWS: Tell the world about your recent accomplishment
EAC Member News is where we share information about EACers who win awards, publish books and make their mark on the communications world in other important ways.
Do you have a recent achievement? Let EAC help tell the world about it on EAC’s Member News page. If you have member news to share, contact the member news coordinator, Kerri Niblett.
6. SHOP EAC: Fun merch for your workspace
Looking for some vibrant, useful and fun editing merchandise to spruce up your work space?
Eight-Step Editing/EAC Grammar Tips Poster
EAC and Jim Taylor have teamed up to produce a vibrant poster that features practical highlights and tips from Jim’s popular Eight-Step Editing seminar, as well as helpful grammar tips from EAC members.
If you’re an editor or a writer, this colourful quick-reference guide is essential to have on hand to help you find and fix common readability problems in your documents.
Purchase your Eight-Step Editing/EAC Grammar Tips poster now.
EAC magnets
Stick ’em up! EAC’s popular “I’m not obsessed. I’m an editor!” and “Je ne suis pas obsédé. Je suis réviseur.” graphics are now available as magnets. Boast to the world what you do by sticking this tongue-in-cheek magnet on your fridge, filing cabinet, car and the robot you’re building in your garage.
Purchase your magnets now.
The EAC national e-news update is produced on behalf of the national executive council by the national office.