FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Toronto, February 2, 2017—Working with new technology in industries and media beyond traditional print publishing is the new normal for many of Canada’s editing professionals. This theme is at the heart of the latest edition of Professional Editorial Standards, the vital publication for editors by the Editors’ Association of Canada (Editors Canada). This new edition, which was approved by members of Editors Canada in October 2016 and took effect January 1, 2017, is now available as a free download
The updated Professional Editorial Standards reflects the knowledge and skills required of editors today, taking into account technological advances and current working methods.
“We’re thrilled with this latest edition of our cornerstone publication,” says Editors Canada president Anne Louise Mahoney. “We literally set the standards for professional editing in Canada, and we are committed to keeping them current to reflect the important work that editors do.”
Professional Editorial Standards clarifies what is expected of Canadian editors and defines the criteria against which their knowledge, skills and practice can be measured.
The standards reflect the growing demand for editing in non-traditional publishing and increasingly digital environments. As a result, they are designed to be broadly applicable to all editors, regardless of the type of material they work on, the media and formats they work in, or how they edit. They represent a shared set of core standards that all Canadian editors are encouraged to follow.
The standards defined in Professional Editorial Standards are used by…
Editors to
- better understand the range of skills and knowledge they should aspire to
- support their own continuing education and professional development
- explain what editing is and what editors do
- define best practices for doing their work
Employers to
- know what to expect from the editors they hire
- develop job descriptions
- create performance evaluation tools
Clients to
- know what to expect from the editors they hire
- understand and negotiate editors’ services
Educators to
- develop editing training courses and programs
Editors Canada to
- develop and maintain its landmark professional certification program
- explain what editors should do when performing various stages of editing
- increase awareness of the value of editing
- provide products and services to editors throughout their careers
- design material, webinars, seminars, and courses on editing
- support and advance the interests of editors and excellence in editing
Editors who meet these standards are able to do a professional job with minimum supervision.
Visit the Editors Canada website to download a free copy of Professional Editorial Standards.
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About Editors Canada
Editors Canada began in 1979 as the Freelance Editors’ Association of Canada to promote and maintain high standards of editing. In 1994, the word “Freelance” was dropped to reflect the association’s expanding focus to serve both freelance and in-house editors. As Canada’s only national editorial association, it is the hub for 1,300 members and affiliates, both salaried and freelance, who work in the corporate, technical, government, not-for-profit and publishing sectors. The association’s professional development programs and services include professional certification, an annual conference, seminars, webinars, guidelines for fair pay and working conditions, and networking with other associations. Editors Canada has five regional branches: British Columbia; Saskatchewan; Toronto; Ottawa–Gatineau; and Quebec/Atlantic Canada, as well as smaller branches (called twigs) in Calgary, Edmonton, Manitoba, Kitchener-Waterloo-Guelph, Hamilton/Halton, Kingston, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland and Labrador.
Media Contact
Michelle Ou
Senior Communications Manager
Editors Canada
416 975-1379 / 1 866 226-3348
communications@editors.ca