Turn over a fresh leaf in planning

Planning, 15 August 2008

Having been the young planners' page editor since January last year, I feel that it is time to hand the baton on to another young planner. It is an important role - indeed, my own involvement began when I replied to an advertisement in these pages in April 2005 to join the steering group of the young planners' panel, now the young planners' network (YPN).

With an interest in geography and places from an early age, I went to the University of Wales, Aberystwyth and gained a BA in geography. I was then fortunate enough to obtain an ODPM bursary, which funded my MSc in spatial planning at Oxford Brookes University.

After spending two years at King Sturge's Birmingham office, I joined Drivers Jonas's 15-strong planning team in the city as a planner last December. The team advises developers, landowners and house builders on planning strategies and prepares applications and appeals. This requires an awareness of current planning issues, an understanding of how to manage projects and the ability to work with the public and stakeholders.

I have edited this page for more than 18 months. I source articles from YPN members through the various regional representatives and other contacts. Editing the page brings many benefits. The most rewarding aspect of the role is to open Planning magazine every four weeks and see the articles that I have helped to put together in collaboration with the RTPI news editor. I have learned many skills that can be transferred to my day job, such as being concise in writing and meeting strict deadlines.

Liaising with young planners across the country on a regular basis has improved my links with regional representatives, most of whom provide material for the page. I particularly enjoyed finding a "press packer" to cover last year's national young planners' conference in Glasgow, because it increased the number of planners who were involved in producing the page.

Joining Drivers Jonas and becoming qualified through the assessment of professional competence process has given me more responsibility and the opportunity to work on fantastic large-scale projects that are more challenging. I have therefore decided that it is time to give someone else the opportunity to take over the editing role.

The past 18 months that I have spent as editor have been thoroughly enjoyable and I would recommend the role to anyone who wants to get to know more planners and has an interest in journalism. The editor will need to be well organised and able to meet strict deadlines every four weeks. You will need to be persistent in chasing those who promise articles, able to edit material to fit word limits and to come up with ideas for articles, as well as for people who can write them.

As a member of the YPN, you need to be very aware of young planners' activities generally and involved in local activities. You must be an RTPI member and be under the age of 35. I will work jointly with the new editor on the October page with a view to them working independently thereafter. Anyone who would like to apply for the role should send some background information about themselves, such as a CV and a paragraph on why they think they are the right person for the job.

Joanne Hooper is a West Midlands young planners' representative. If you are interested in applying for the role of young planners' page editor, please email YPN manager Catherine Middleton at young.planners@rtpi.org.uk before 12 September.