Zya Community is a media company that supports marginalised communities, focusing on the arts. As I come to the end of my placement, I have begun to reflect on what I have learned and the valuable areas of professional development that I have experienced.

A lesson in identity-related language

I do not consider myself to be from a marginalised community, and therefore, I felt a sense of responsibility when tasked with editing existing articles from Zya’s online blog space. The articles were contributed by the communities that Zya advocates for, and I knew I had to educate myself in order to do the articles justice. Having had a look at Technica editorial services, there were some tips in relation to responsibly writing and editing with anti-racism in mind.1

Another thing that helped with this editorial process was looking at style guides, such as one by “gal dem,” a magazine written and produced by women of colour and non-binary people of colour, who “will always strive to use the best language at any given time.”2


Lastly, but perhaps most importantly — asking for help. Perfection is not expected, nor is it possible. I was not afraid to ask my placement supervisor about their preferences. They were always happy to educate me, and to tell me about their experiences. Learning never stops in this area. Language changes constantly, as does terminology and people’s experiences. There are a multitude of resources available for us to consult, so that we can put our best foot forward.

Social media content and design

“The best way to stand out on social media is to identify specific goals, create valuable posts that align with them and distribute the right content on the right platforms.”

Aboulhosn, 2023

Sounds simple, but successful execution of this can be more difficult. As lead on social media accounts, this proved to be both a positive and negative thing. Negative, because marketing and social media is one area that I greatly struggle with — I even have an aversion to LinkedIn, which I am attempting to overcome — and positive, precisely because of this: It was clearly an area in which I needed improvement on, and what better way to learn than to be thrown in head-first? My first task was to come up with content for a six week plan. I needed to select content that was in line with the company’s ethos. Then I needed to create. My very first attempt at a reel was unspeakably disastrous. But when I look back at that, and what I now create, I am no revolutionary, but there is certainly an improvement.

Rebranding

Bidilica (2023) says that a clear and cohesive brand strategy for publishing houses and self-publishers is crucial in an era where readers are inundated with choices.3 Zya has been undergoing a rebranding, which included new design and new content for their website. As there were design students on the team, it gave me an opportunity to learn from them, in terms of colour palettes, navigation tools, typeface and layout.

A research project of artifact repatriation

One particularly rewarding segment of my placement was a project of Zya’s, of research about the repatriation of artifacts. It is no secret that many artifacts from indigenous communities are held in British museums, and I had the opportunity to transcribe, read through and select parts of interviews with communities and individuals with experience in this area, to be edited and posted on socials. Choosing a short one-minute clip from an hour long interview was difficult, but enjoyable.

Remote vs in person

Remote working has certainly been on the rise since the 2020 pandemic. A survey from 2023 found that 44% of people in the UK work from home some of the time. (Fennell, 2023).4 However, one of the most enjoyable aspects of my placement was a full office day, in person. As someone who almost always chooses to work independently and remotely, I could not deny how much I gained from having an in-person day. This is not to say that I would have liked the placement to be fully in person; rather, it was valuable in this instance to put faces to the name and to work closer together, especially with sensitive topics.


Overall, my placement provided me with valuable insight and experience, enabling me to take my knowledge forward in my publishing journey.


Bibliography

  1. Technica Editorial Services. ‘How to responsibly write and edit with anti-racism in mind: writing and editing in the times of COVID and black lives matter.’ https://technicaeditorial.com/how-to-responsibly-write-and-edit-with-anti-racism-in-mind-writing-and-editing-in-the-time-of-covid-and-black-lives-matter/ [Accessed 14/04/24]. ↩︎
  2. Gal-dem (2022). ‘Gal-dem Style Guide.’ https://gal-dem.com/style-guide/ [Accessed 14/04/24] ↩︎
  3. Aboulhosn, A (2023). ‘How to craft an effective social media content strategy.’ SproutSocial. https://sproutsocial.com/insights/social-media-content-strategy/ [Accessed 14/04/24]. ↩︎
  4. Fennell, A (2023). ‘Remote working statistics UK.’ StandOut CV. https://www.forbes.com/uk/advisor/business/remote-work-statistics/ [Accessed 14/04/24] ↩︎