EL7045 - People in Publishing

The module will be delivered via a series of lectures and workshop discussions with industry professionals, researchers, writers, campaigning groups and activists. Associated reading will include studies of the creative industries, recent key texts about access and representation and reports and research published by a wide variety of organisations. You will learn by engaging with the people who are leading change within the industry and will ultimately gain an understanding of how to consider, apply and support progressive movements and diversity and inclusivity activities.

Working with industry experts, you will gain an understanding of the current profile of diversity and inclusivity policies, practice and frameworks and how they seek to change and improve the publishing landscape. You will also gain understanding of the operating context of commercial publishers and the wider cultural sector. You will learn about and from the wider cultural and societal debates that inform the delivery of work in this area and gain a view of the how cultural norms and expectations have changed, and are changing over time. You will be informed about representation and inclusivity within the creative industries and how recent research and cultural movements are raising awareness and shaping change within the industry.

Working with your module tutor you will:

• Gain confidence in the use of appropriate language and terms reflective of this area of work
• Discuss ideas in an open and respectful forum
• Formulate your own responses to ideas in the module
• Be supported to examine your own unconscious biases and to understand your own perspective
• Think critically about the specific issues raised by the module and how to apply them to your future professional aspirations

Assessment and tutorial support will be available through consultation with the module tutor, while the e-learning platform will provide additional opportunities for engagement with students and staff on the module.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. Online reading lists (provided after enrolment) give you access to your reading material for your modules. The Library works in partnership with your module tutors to ensure you have access to the material that you need.

Knowledge & Understanding:
• Show understanding of the practices, structures and challenges across different publishing sectors, the socio-cultural and economic contexts of the publishing industry and the role of EDI;
• Demonstrate knowledge of research and practice and evaluate these in terms of contemporary opportunities and challenges

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
• Reflect critically on practice and organisational management
• Demonstrate communication skills and collaborative working practices
• Critically review and evaluate relevant research to inform your thinking and perspectives

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
• Demonstrate the capacity to work as a member of a team, professional development and to understand the various roles in publishing in a wider commercial and professional context;
• develop awareness of issues relating to discrimination and barriers associated with exclusion within the publishing industry.

Summative (week 5)
30%
Group Pitch to Class: identify an existing EDI issue in publishing and offer a critical review of existing interventions and solutions (equivalent 2000 words)

Summative (assessment week 2)
70%
Essay: drawing on a literature review of relevant research, policies and procedures students will produce a response to a live brief challenge relating to an EDI issue in the publishing workplace. The essay will require historical and industry context as well as legal and ethical considerations to approach the challenge and propose potential solutions (3000 words).

N/A

N/A

In this module you will explore how diversity, inclusivity and representation work within publishing and the wider creative industries in relation to writing and production. The module will examine perspectives on the protected characteristics of disability, gender, ethnicity and religion and those of social class and how they impact on representation issues within publishing. It will consider how the intersection of protected characteristics can present barriers both for access and representation and we will explore recent movements, leadership and progress that are seeking to change the landscape for the better. We will consider the place-based and regional perspective on access and explore how recruitment practices and creative access to careers in writing, publishing and the broader creative industries works. To understand these issues, you will hear from publishers, writers, researchers, organisations and activists who are leading change within their industries and related creative industry sectors.