How to Become an Editorial Board Member of a Journal

You have probably heard of being on an editorial board of a journal. The board will often be made up of members with a range of different expertise in a certain field. Usually you will have to have a basic understanding of the subject and be willing to learn more. In addition, the board will usually have at-large members with a wide range of knowledge.

At-large board members must have generalist knowledge of the field

Most journals operate under the aegis of a large and often unwieldy Editorial Board, and this can prove to be a challenge for even the most seasoned of tenured researchers. The best way to tackle this quandary is to define a set of editorial board policies and stick to them. In addition to establishing a formal process, it’s a good idea to consider how you go about appointing members to your masthead. For example, it may make more sense to appoint women and men of color to your editorial board, or at least those who are willing to put in the requisite hours of research, writing and editing. Similarly, you may also wish to consider the geographic locales of your editorial staff. This is particularly relevant if you have a large international contingent in your midst.

It’s also a good idea to take advantage of the countless opportunities to meet and interact with your peers. For instance, you might be surprised to find that most of your peers have a similar interest in your area of expertise. Furthermore, if you’re fortunate enough to be employed at a well-known university or research institution, you’ll be able to leverage your position for the benefit of all your peers. As such, it’s a good idea to network with your colleagues, especially the more junior of the lot. Not only will this boost your personal profile, but it’s a good idea to learn about their professional and academic life vicinities, so that you’ll be better positioned to offer advice and guidance to them when you need it.

Guest editors for theme issues

A special issue is a collection of papers based on a specific theme. These themes encourage researchers to expand their understanding of a topic and develop new lines of research. They also provide an opportunity to look at topics which have not been discussed in other journals.

Typically, these thematic issues are coordinated by a team of guest editors. Often, a leader in the field of the theme is responsible for writing a brief introduction to the issue. This introductory article should convince readers that the issue is important and discuss what subsequent articles will address.

In addition to the introduction, each paper in a thematic issue is subject to peer review. All papers are also individually cited. The Editor-in-Chief will make the decision to accept or reject the manuscripts for the thematic issue. Usually, a theme issue will consist of at least three articles and may include a few more. Depending on the number of papers, a theme issue can take up to several years to prepare.

Typically, a Special Issue will consist of ten or more articles and editorials. Several early-career researchers may also be included in the issue. Organizing a special issue requires a strong team.

Guest editors will usually be physicians. Their role is to introduce the theme issue, establish the scope of the articles, and avoid overlap. Normally, these articles will range from 500 to 1000 words. Unless invited to write a specific article, they will only be listed as authors on two or three papers.

Theme issues are usually sponsored. They typically require funding from an organization such as CIHR or a private foundation. The funding should be budgeted in the grant proposal.

If you would like to become a guest editor for a theme issue, you should submit a letter of interest to the Editor-in-Chief. You should also contact the Editorial Office to learn more about the process.

Ideally, you should submit your proposal at least six months before the desired publication date. While the editorial board is happy to provide informal feedback on pre-submission enquiries, the Editorial Office cannot guarantee acceptance of your proposal until you have submitted your full proposal.

Keeping the Editorial Board involved in a journal

One of the most important aspects of running a journal is to make sure the Editorial Board is involved. Generally, editors select members based on criteria such as academic aptitude and publication count. A board that is composed of members who are interested in your field and share your interest in quality research is a good idea.

There are many different ways to keep your editorial team engaged. The most obvious way is to hold periodic meetings. These can be held in person or over the phone. Another option is to use video conferencing. It is also a good idea to set up a distribution list of email addresses to which you can send updates.

Getting feedback from your peers is another key step in keeping your editorial board on the right track. If they are not satisfied with your content, it is best to bring in a fresh set of eyes.

The best way to engage your community is to offer them something of value. This can be a piece of research, a review of the latest literature, a discussion on the state of the field, or a new article.

The most exciting part of the editorial process is the feedback you receive from your peers. Many editorial board members act as mentors for new authors. Other members can also serve as tie breakers in the case of multiple articles for the same author. You should not hesitate to invite members of your sponsoring society.

A well-rounded journal will be one with a diverse and active Editorial Board. This group is responsible for providing a variety of suggestions on how to improve the journal, which in turn helps you produce better content. So take the time to find out what your readers want from you, and they will be more likely to read and submit to you.

For the most part, the Editorial Board is the backbone of your journal. Be sure to keep them on the same page as you and they will be a valuable resource. Keep them aware of the latest developments with your journal and they will be more than happy to help.

Avoiding predatory journals

Predatory journals are a global threat to scholarly integrity. They misrepresent the peer review process and can publish inaccurate or false articles. While these journals can be hard to spot, you can prevent them from compromising your career. Here are some guidelines to help you identify and avoid them.

First, make sure that the journal you’re submitting to is a legitimate, open access journal. Check the publisher’s website or use one of the many other tools available to verify their identity.

Secondly, look at the journal’s impact factor. Some predatory journals falsely claim to have high Impact Factors. However, the only legitimate “Impact Factor” is the Journal Impact Factor.

Thirdly, you should check the publication fees. Most journals charge a low fee, but some charge high APCs. If a journal’s publication fee is high, you should consider whether you can afford to publish there.

Finally, check the integrity of the editorial board. Predatory journals often have fake or unrecognised members of the editorial board. You should also search the profiles of these members online.

One of the best ways to find out if a journal is legitimate is to check the World Association of Medical Editors’ checklist. The WAME recommends checking the DOAJ seal, as well as a few other criteria.

You can also check to see if the journal is indexed in Web of Science. This database is owned by Clarivate Analytics and is used by many legitimate, reputable journals. But be aware that Google Scholar isn’t indexing this database.

Many predatory journals use spam emails to solicit manuscripts. These emails often contain misleading information about citation indices. And if you receive an email offering you the opportunity to publish your article in a “free” or “open access” journal, be suspicious.

To avoid predatory publishers, the World Association of Medical Editors recommends a three-step process. It begins by identifying and avoiding predatory publishers.

Lastly, you should learn how to tell a good journal from a bad one. Look for a journal that has a well-developed editorial team and transparent, ethical publishing practices.