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https://theconversation.com/white-female-and-high-rates-of-mental-illness-new-diversity-research-offers-a-snapshot-of-the-publishing-industry-189679>
"Books are fundamental to our society: they shape our culture, education and
ideas. To do this well, books should reflect the amazing and varied world we
occupy.
Those who create books – publishers and publishing industry workers – are the
gatekeepers. If those industry professionals are diverse and work within an
industry that is inclusive, then there is a better chance that books will
represent a wider range of experiences.
But how diverse is Australian publishing?
The 2022 Australian Publishing Industry Workforce Survey on Diversity and
Inclusion, produced by the Australian Publishers Association and the University
of Melbourne, shows there is work to be done.
The industry needs to be more culturally diverse: fewer than 1% of Australian
publishing professionals are First Nations and only 8.5% have an Asian cultural
identity.
Perhaps the most startling finding of the survey is the high proportion of
publishing workers experiencing mental illness. 35.4% of respondents were
experiencing mental health conditions. This compares with 25% of respondents to
a similar survey of the UK publishing industry in 2021, an increase from 20% in
2020.
While the reasons for the high rate of mental illness are no doubt complex, the
message for publishers is clear: staff need support. The industry can also be
more inclusive for those with disabilities. 24.7% of publishing professionals
reported having a long-term health condition or disability, including a
physical or mental health condition, with just over 5% of respondents
identifying as living with disability."
Via Muse.
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
