As PEA celebrated the first anniversary of its launch (complete with candles and singing), our meeting on rates at Benledi, in Glebe, marked an exciting milestone for the Association and editing in New South Wales. For the first time, a minimum recommended rate was suggested, discussed (even increased!) and agreed by those present. It probably won't change the world (yet), but it's a start.

So, who was there?
PEA played host to a diverse assortment of editing professionals, as well as a journo or two, working as freelance and in-house, for major publishing houses, online entities and small agencies. The presence of our guests from the MEAA and Media Super provided a broader perspective.

Thank you to our informative and inspiring speakers:

Pamela Hewitt, author of the bi-annual national editors survey, presented a 'manifesto' on valuing editors, as well as the results of the 2007 national survey.

Shelley Kenigsberg, former chair of the IPEd Accreditation Board, provided a context for the national body, IPEd, focusing on the accreditation scheme and the exam in October.

John Myers adviser (and actor) with Media Super, provided an amazingly clear, down-to-earth look at how to handle your superannuation as a freelancer. He also provided an unexpected, but very welcome, pep talk about the need for editors to 'professionalise'.

Claire O'Rourke freelance organiser at the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance, gave us the MEAA's latest finding on freelance rates in the world of print media, as well as some discussion about the MEAA's recommended hourly rate for editors(!).

By night's end, we had concluded that the discussion about what editors should be paid needed to continue, with the participation of publishers and other employers of editors. Look out for this next instalment in 2009.

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