EASE course: Editorial School for Journal Editors

Module 1 Journal structure and management

Wednesday, 3 April, 2pm (UK time)

Part I of our popular Editorial School for Journal Editors ran in April 2024. Iva Grabarić Andonovski, EASE Vice President, delivered the first of four modules.

The format was a lecture, followed by a moderated breakout session in which small groups considered two case studies, and then a final session to feedback the discussions from the breakout groups and answer further questions from delegates.

Each module was recorded and made available to participants together with handbooks for easy reference.

Module 1 content

The editorial and administrative structure of a journal is a crucial part of its success or failure since a weak editorial team will delay review and publication and this can result in poor quality publications. Editors are often appointed on the basis of their scientific knowledge and seniority, with little thought to their knowledge of editing and how a journal operates: this situation risks overburdening the administrative and other publishing staff and editors, and often results in weak and poor-quality journals.

This workshop looks at what editors are expected to do, and how to ensure that the right people are appointed and that there are systems to both support and encourage them so that they remain motivated members of the journal team.

Learning objectives

1. Editorial structures – Delegates are introduced to different editorial structures, and the benefits and disadvantages of each so they can determine the optimum structure for their own circumstances.
2. Editorial duties – Delegates consider the various responsibilities that editors are expected to undertake, and learn how to ensure these are embedded within their own agreements with their publishers or parent organisation.