The Writers Unit #30 (WU30), an American Philatelic Society (APS) affiliate representing stamp collecting writers, editors and publishers for more than 50 years, is encouraging membership for online content producers.
A stark contrast from decades past, most of today’s philatelic writing is found online, where people write and edit for websites, blogs and social media. Often, the same material is published in print, on a website and on social media at the same time.
“Writing is writing, whether it is for print, broadcast or the internet,” said WU30 president Lloyd de Vries. “The styles may change, but the purpose is the same: To communicate, inform, and exchange ideas. We think including internet content producers in WU30 will be mutually beneficial.”
The WU30 publishes a quarterly newsletter, the Philatelic Communicator; supports literature competitions; and maintains a “Hall of Fame” for outstanding stamp collecting writers, both in the past and those active today. In addition, new programs are being planned, according to officials with the unit, which was founded in 1967 and meets annually at the Great American Stamp Show, the APS StampShow’s successor.
The “30” in the unit’s name refers to the traditional mark placed at the end of newspaper copy to indicate its endpoint to editors and typesetters. Not coincidentally, the Writers Unit is affiliate #30 of the APS.
Membership is open to all who write, publish or edit in philately—from periodical columns to research books and now, explicitly, to those who write for digital media. Membership is $15 a year anywhere in the world for digital copies of the Philatelic Communicator, delivered via email. Membership with a printed journal is $20.