Outdoor Focus Winter 2024 | Page 6

OWPG future Josephine Collingwood

Integrity is Key

Newly elected Chair of the OWPG , Josephine Collingwood , presents her Vision and Values for the OWPG .

At the 2024 AGM I took on the role as Chair of the Outdoor Writers and Photographers Guild ( OWPG ). The decision to offer myself as a candidate was not taken lightly ; personal life , work life and mental fortitude are variables in an elaborate equation that dictate a way of living . Sometimes that equation does not balance , and sometimes we feel able to add more variables .

I joined only a few years ago after my first book was reviewed by Life Member Roly Smith , and I thought the idea of a group of outdoor writers and photographers was appealing . I joined , rocked up at the Big Weekend at Malham , and felt strangely at home . I made good friends and fascinating acquaintances from that first meet , and established the OWPG firmly as one of my aforementioned variables .

So , here I am , a few years on and newly elected Chair of the OWPG . Thank you for your trust , and thank you to all the previous Chairs for their hard work . These are interesting times and I feel we are at an important juncture in the future of the OWPG . The morrow is ever near and we must embrace it or wither . The digital revolution is done , ChatGPT and Artificial Intelligence ( AI ) spread like a virus into our digital world , threatening the need for human writers and image makers . Why pay for content when it can be squirted out of a machine like a vanilla Mr Whippy for next to nothing ?

This is a fundamental challenge to OWPG members . My answer is to grab hold of the difficulty and use it to make something better . We therefore need to rise to the challenge and produce outdoor media content that is human , extraordinary and better than Mr Whippy . I of course mean no disrespect to the brand of delightful soft-mix ice cream .

I believe the future of the OWPG also lies in strengthening its sense of community . We cannot and should not compete with other associations and societies in a bid for prestige . As well as the enormous scope of talent and experience within its members , what the OWPG has in abundance is support , friendship and mutual respect . That is what makes us different .

As a self-employed photographer for 27 years and author / publisher for the last 7 years , I work alone . As do the vast majority of the OWPG membership . It can be a solitary existence . Whilst some may seek that solitude wholly , it is conferred upon us whether we seek it or not . Being part of a guild , a community of likeminded people who know the same sort of life experiences , work problems and joys fulfils a profound and evolutionary need to belong .

Establishing a formal set of shared values within our membership will help create a stronger sense of community both on a personal and professional level , and at every stage of members ’ careers .

Vision

I set about thinking how to formalise these values , and create a vision of what the OWPG , as an organisation should be .

Initially the OWPG brought together outdoor writers and then photographers into a guild . Now , the guild embodies the full gamut of outdoor media content creators , as befits the time we live in . Our job is to let others know the joy and benefits of outdoor activity , and how to

VISION

To be the trusted body of professional outdoor media content creators who promote , document and advocate sustainable outdoor activity for all .

do it sustainably . In every media , we use words and pictures . Excellently .

Values

Under this overall vision , I hope to see all members of the OWPG fully embrace the following values .

We love the outdoors . We have to , to do this job of eeking out a living in an uncertain industry . If we love something , we must by definition care for it , and use our skills to inspire others to care for it too .

Awareness of inclusion , diversity and equality has grown slowly over the last few decades . In recent years , that growth has increased to the point of it becoming a sound bite , and sometimes , just a platitude . It cannot and must not be ignored . It has finally made it onto the agenda and we must act .

Diversity is defined as the range of human differences , including race , ethnicity , gender identity , sexual orientation , age , social class , physical attributes , neurology , religious or ethical values system , national origin and political beliefs . In case you hadn ’ t noticed , we are all different and there is no normal . Generations of

INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY

To be professionals who care about the outdoors and each other and who advocate inclusion , diversity and equality in outdoor media creation .

inherently taught prejudice and ignorance has produced a portion of society that

6 OUTDOOR FOCUS Winter 2024 – 25