Continuing a proud tradition of student feminism at UQ, the feminist collective behind the “Wom*news” zine are inviting people to get involved.  The dynamic foursome have fun and participate in Brisbane creative life through zine fairs, blogging and visiting Visible Ink to produce the zine. They tell us a bit more about their zine.

What do you do, why did you choose to go down that path, and what do you love about it?
Emma, Rosie, Lorelei and Laura make up the UQ Women’s Collective zine team for our feminist zine “Wom*news”. The Collective is a feminist group at the University of Queensland’s campus. We wanted to make a fun and creative space for the Collective’s members and friends to get their opinions out there on women’s issues, and thus our zine was born! We don’t receive any funding, so the zine is low key in terms of budget – which is why we have been using the printers at Visible Ink – but it’s big on awesomeness. We love that from such grass roots beginnings we’ve made Wom*news into something pretty prolific in the feminist-sphere. Articles from our zine have been featured the Down Under Feminists’ Carnival, and more recently, in UQ’s student magazine.

Emma is the editor, Rosie the website mod, Lorelei’s the designer and Laura rounds up the news in each published issue. It’s a collective effort where everyone is free and happy to pitch in to make the zine happen! Other members sometimes help with editing and submit the most amazing cover art for us to feature.
What are you currently working on project-wise?
We’re currently planning our stall for the Southside Tea Room Zine and Cartoon fair. We’re going to have a Polaroid photo campaign, as long as copies of Wom*news to grab for free. We’ll soon be calling for submissions for issue 10. Double digits, how exciting!
What would you say led you to where you are today? Eg background, achievements, inspiration?
We’re inspired by the work that other feminists do, and how little communities like the Women’s Collective can start something small and really make an impact. Feminist bloggers, and magazines like Bitch, are also something we love and aspire to be like!
What’s it like being a young person in Brisbane? What suggestions would you make to improve the city?
Brisbane is a pretty great place in terms of activism and having spaces to express yourself. We’d love to see more free and easily accessible printing and photocopying services available.
Where can people get in touch with you?
You can find all our past issues, and other cool articles at our website www.womynews.wordpress.com. If you’re a feminist in Brisbane and would like to be featured in Wom*news, or want to know more about the zine, you can contact us at uqwnews@gmail.com.