Interview with Lucas Bennett
Lucas Bennett was editor of our association's pages in the RMS for 14 years. In an interview with his successor, he looks back on this period.
Marianne Wälchli - Her articles have always been very carefully written and well researched, and I'm aware that I'll be following in some very big footsteps.
Dear Lucas, you have been our association's RMS editor for 14 years, for which I would like to thank you on behalf of all SSPM members. Are you feeling nostalgic about leaving?
Yes, of course! It's been a long and exciting period, during which the association has changed a lot. But precisely because it's been such a long time, I think it's right that someone else should now put new accents on things. But I will particularly miss working with the editorial team and the good discussions at editorial board meetings.
What was particularly important to you as RMS editor?
On the one hand, to introduce the association to its members, but also to make the diversity of the SSPM known to outsiders. Secondly, a good level of linguistics has always been important to me; this means that I've always endeavored to write with great care even texts I haven't written myself.
What has changed in 14 years?
At the start of my career, the SSPM pages were above all a classic organ of the association, with reports of CC, CP and AD meetings. Today, everything is much more open and thematic.
Do you remember any particular article?
The interview with Simonetta Sommaruga, then member of the Council of States, was a highlight for me. It was a fascinating encounter with a fascinating personality who took the interview seriously at every turn for what is, by comparison, a "small newspaper".
Do you often receive reactions to your articles?
It was precisely this article that elicited the most reactions; otherwise, strong reactions were rare. The themes relating to a CLA for music teachers or to working conditions in music schools in general elicited the strongest reactions. In personal interviews, I could see that the pages were read. Otherwise, there were few reactions.
This is probably also due to the lack of daily news due to the relatively long production time. How can we compensate for this?
Hot topics are published on the SSPM website, in social media or in the online edition of RMS.
How would you rate the importance of online publishing; is it read?
It's very progressive in terms of our association's content. With the January relaunch, it should become more attractive, which will hopefully lead to greater use of the online edition too.
Do you have any special advice for me?
It's essential to keep the doors open to sections and members and invite them to participate, write articles or at least contribute ideas. One drawback was that participation by sections and members has declined more and more in recent years. I hope you'll find a way to make the association pages more reflective of the many activities of the association and its members.
I'll take your advice on board. Thanks for the interview and all the best for your new projects!
