New Editor for Guild of Food Writers’ newsletter

Media release lang – 1
Tuesday 31 August 2010

New Editor for NZ Guild of Food Writers’ newsletter

The new editor of the NZ Guild of Food Writers’ online newsletter Pen & Palate, Renee Lang combines two passions – publishing and cooking.

Ms Lang succeeds former editor Jill Brewis who leaves the position to devote more time to other writing and family commitments.

The role involves both editing and producing the Guild’s bi-monthly digital newsletter, which contains news from members throughout New Zealand as well as a calendar of upcoming events and membership information.

Ms Lang has some firm ideas on the future direction of the publication.

“For example, I’m very keen for readers to be aware of and to acknowledge the growing number of food blogs,” she says. “My plans include making the publication visually attractive and newsworthy, a must-read bi-monthly for people interested in food.

“I also want to develop ways of showcasing some of the innovative things individual members are involved in. For example, a long-time member in Auckland has set up her own self-sufficient garden and that’s a reflection of a number of social issues in modern society – cost, flavour and more.”

NZ Guild of Food Writers president Lauraine Jacobs is thrilled Ms Lang has accepted the position of Pen & Palate editor.

“It is terrific that someone of Renee’s editing and publishing experience is taking on this role. She brings a huge wealth of knowledge and skills to a vital communication tool for the food industry.”

Member
A long-time member of the Guild, Renee Lang began her career in publishing in the late 1970s after training as a teacher in Wellington and then completing her OE.

A love of cooking fostered by her Dutch mother who celebrated the foods of a Dutch East Indies generation, Ms Lang’s career has been closely allied to food.

Among her proudest achievements she lists a six-year stint as publishing manager at New Holland Publishers (NZ) Ltd where she was responsible for building a local publishing programme from the ground up.

During her time in this role she published a number of award-winning books including Beach Bach Boat Barbecue (and others by Penny Oliver), Take a Vine-Ripened Tomato (and others by Julie Biuso) and The Modern Cook and Eat (Ray McVinnie).

Currently Ms Lang does “a satisfying amount of freelance book editing work, a little publishing (including Richard Till’s bestselling Kiwi Kitchen based on his popular television series), some book packaging and some writing”.

Ms Jacobs says the Guild is extremely active having had a very busy quarter with significant representation at the Auckland and Wellington Food Shows.

“The Guild provides a valuable service to members with the goal of advancing food interests in New Zealand – all members interact with the public in some way to share the benefit of their knowledge,” Ms Jacobs says.

ENDS