Honorary editor of Landscape Journal and chair of the Editorial Advisory Board Tim Waterman shares his vision for the publication
It is with pride and pleasure that I step into the role of honorary editor for Landscape, The Journal of the Landscape Institute. In this capacity I will serve as Chair of the Editorial Advisory Board, which has a number of dynamic new members as well as retaining many of the wise and steady voices that have served in past years. I will work closely with George Bull, the new editor for Landscape, who brings freshness and enthusiasm to his post as well as considerable skill. I will also, of course, maintain constant contact with the staff at the LI, in particular those working in Policy and Communications.
Landscape has undergone a number of changes recently. Two of these particularly add great strength and clarity to the editorial policy and direction. These are: that the Journal is now quarterly, and is intended to carry in-depth content that people will want to keep for the future – a ‘keeper’; and that our online Landscape News & Events now carries more time-sensitive material such as news and bulletins, and holds an ever-expanding resource including the Case Studies Library and the Knowledge Base. These changes reflect the type of utility and legibility that I will promote in the Institute’s future publications.
Honorary positions are perhaps most often awarded to sage and senior members of an organization, but I am a younger member at mid-career. As such, I will not see this position as one in which I have been invited to wear laurels and sun myself. Rather, what both the magazine and the profession need at this uncertain time is leadership that is outspoken and activist. I will use the post of honorary editor as a platform to promote the vital work that landscape architects do and to increase the understanding of our profession – and, indeed, of the meaning of landscape in general. What we need right now is not just a call to action. I will both call and act.
Tim Waterman
tim.waterman@writtle.ac.uk
