On Thursday, January 28, 2021, Editors Barrie will be hosting the Inclusive Writing Panel featuring three respected, knowledgeable panelists to shed some light on the topic of writing and editing inclusively: Michèle Newton, public relations specialist and co-founder of Making Change Simcoe County; Dale Boyle, who runs the Safer Spaces programming through the Gilbert Centre in Barrie; and Kerry-Ann Charles, who has gained international recognition for championing the importance of Indigenous perspectives when pursuing efforts relating to the environment and climate change.
Inclusive writing should no longer be accepted as a nicety. The importance of knowing your audience is a crucial goal for all businesses, organizations, and institutions. Representing all audiences equally requires the understanding and application of inclusive language, and identifying and discarding pejorative and hurtful words commonly used. Even today, writers with the best intentions can send the wrong message with their communications or cause harm without meaning to do so. While changemakers like our panelists are helping bring issues like inclusive communication to light, the Inclusive Writing Panel offers individuals the chance to improve their own skills and ensure that we can communicate effectively and appropriately.
“More than most, writers and editors know the power that words can have,” says Jacqui Woods-Powell, co-founder and coordinator of Editors Barrie. “This panel will help equip local writers, editors, and other attendees with the knowledge and tools in their toolbox. We’re delighted to have such amazing panelists joining us and lending us their expertise on a topic that is incredibly important.”
Editors Barrie advocates for both editors and writers to develop their skills by understanding their audience, writing subjects, characters and more. With great panelists from the Black, LGBTQ2S + and Indigenous communities, the Inclusive Writing Panel is sure to be informative and enlightening. Though none of the panelists claim to represent the entirety of any community, the information that those attending will take away is sure to strengthen their writing, editing, and communication skills, whether within a professional setting or just in everyday life.
To register for the Inclusive Writing Panel, please join us here: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/inclusive-writing-speaker-panel-tickets-133229658495.
About Editors Barrie
Editors Barrie is a twig of Editors Canada, offering a new community to writers and editors north of the GTA, as well as networking and development opportunities. Our twig is rooted in Georgian College and has, to date, hosted guest speakers in Barrie and online on a range of topics from next steps in publishing and realistic journalism writing to gender neutral pronouns and grammar basics.