Translator Hayley Armstrong has been this magazine’s T&I Editor and Chair of its Editorial Committee since 2020, and is stepping down to devote more time to a new teaching role and her young family – so if you like the sound of the role she describes below, look out for the call for applicants, coming out soon.
Hours per month:
10–12
Paid?
Yes
AUSIT member for:
19 years
Time in this role:
6 years
Other AUSIT roles to date: none
Q1: Why did you choose to take on the role?
It involves connecting with people across the T&I profession and inviting them to share their expertise, specialisations, work practices, perspectives on industry trends, and thoughts on what the future may hold. It requires keeping abreast of developments in the profession and working closely with the Content Editor to shape those stories into engaging and coherent articles. It also involves liaising with book publishers to obtain review copies, contacting libraries and archives to request permission to reproduce images, and following up with contributors to help keep each issue on schedule. At times, this means juggling content to fill available space, or rescheduling articles for future issues when there is an abundance of content. And of course chairing the Editorial Committee and helping develop the ideas they bring to the table.
Q2: Why did you choose to take on such a big role?
When I heard the role was available, I jumped at the opportunity. I was curious about the publishing process and keen to learn how a magazine comes together behind the scenes. I was also looking for a meaningful way to contribute to AUSIT while living overseas, and because the role could largely be performed online, it was a perfect fit.
Q3: What do you feel you have learned in your time working on the magazine?
I learned a great deal about the publishing and editing process, as the role spans every stage of producing the magazine. And as many of my responsibilities were shared with the Content Editor, it was very much a collaborative role. As T&I Editor I was particularly responsible for balancing content to reflect various perspectives across T&I fields and languages, and for assessing whether articles raised ethical issues – in which case we would consult AUSIT’s Ethics & Professional Practice Committee. I also supported the Content Editor with editorial and design decisions, such as article sequencing, layout and colour schemes, as well as proofreading laid-out pages and assisting with referencing. Being involved in both the content and production sides of the publication gave me a much broader understanding of how a professional journal is developed, from initial planning through to final presentation.
Q4: What advice would you give to someone considering applying for the role?
Stay curious and think of yourself as a facilitator of knowledge, much like a moderator guiding a discussion at a conference. Pursue some topics that genuinely interest you – if you find them engaging, chances are your colleagues will too. Be open to new ideas and different ways of reaching readers, and be willing to experiment in order to keep the magazine relevant and valuable to professionals in an ever-evolving industry. Most importantly, enjoy the opportunity to learn from the remarkable breadth of experience and expertise within our profession.
