Australian First Nations and People of Colour in Publishing Network launched

Publishing professionals Camha Pham, Grace Lucas-Pennington and Radhiah Chowdhury have created and launched the Australian First Nations and People of Colour (FNPOC) in Publishing Network.

‘It can be lonely and isolating being a First Nations or person of colour working in the Australian publishing industry,’ the founders said in a joint statement. ‘The FNPOC in Publishing Network is a place for us to connect, gather, support each other and share experiences and insights in a safe environment. We welcome members from all levels who identify as FNPOC and work in editorial, sales, marketing, design, administration, publicity and production roles at any Australian publishing houses and journals and/or working freelance. We also welcome any FNPOC agents and scouts. Together, we hope to be a vital and valuable resource for all members to navigate the myriad complexities of the Australian publishing landscape while being a person of colour.’

Chowdhury, who recently published her Beatrice Davis Fellowship report on the experiences and perspectives of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) editors and authors working in the UK publishing industry, told Books+Publishing that she, Lucas-Pennington and Pham had been inspired by the BAME in Publishing group and the Black Agents and Editors group in the UK, some of whose members participated in Chowdhury’s research for the fellowship.

‘They were a huge help when we were designing our local network and had some great advice on how to best serve our communities with this initiative,’ she said.

Chowdhury said the high interest in the first 24 hours since the network launched ‘really drives home how necessary and important this community network is’.

She said the number of members and their backgrounds will remain private in the closed group, with the moderators the only public-facing members, who will take any general queries to the group at large.

‘It’s really important to us that this is a network for FNPOC organised by FNPOC,’ said Chowdhury. ‘Allies are so valuable to us, of course, and we’re exploring some ideas down the track for events that can be opened to white allies, but we fundamentally acknowledge that there’s a strong need for a safe space for FNPOC working in Australian publishing completely removed from the white gaze.’

For inquiries or to join email FNPOCinpublishing@gmail.com.

Category: Local news