Introducing Bee

Richard Benson, the former editor of the iconic Face magazine, has been appointed as the editor of a newly established literary magazine and platform called Bee. This initiative is designed to uplift and amplify the voices of working-class writers.

Purpose and Support

The Bee is spearheaded by support from notable figures such as actor Michael Sheen and the influential publishing house Faber. Its mission is clear: to combat the growing marginalization of working-class writers and individuals within the publishing sector.

Offerings of Bee

The platform will include:

• A comprehensive website.
• A podcast series.
• A literary magazine showcasing both fiction and non-fiction works.

Additionally, Bee will launch an outreach program aimed at identifying and nurturing new talent from working-class backgrounds, helping to foster their professional growth.

Advocacy for Inclusion

Benson emphasized the importance of giving a voice to those from less affluent backgrounds, stating: “Justice and fairness demands that people from the less well-off sections of society have the chance to tell their stories, and to get them heard.” He further noted the significance of ordinary working people’s narratives in reflecting societal realities.

Roots of the Initiative

The inauguration of Bee is part of a broader initiative known as A Writing Chance, a program founded to promote working-class writers across the UK. This program is a collaborative effort involving Sheen, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, and Northumbria University, and is facilitated by the writing development charity New Writing North.

Addressing the Class Divide

Claire Malcolm, CEO of New Writing North, articulated the urgency for this initiative, stating: “There’s never been so much debate about class in the creative industries but nothing has changed and things are actually getting worse and inequality more entrenched, hence the need to make our own reality. Talent is classless. Opportunity, however, is class-bound. The Bee is an urgent response to that.”