Council on Social Work Education’s Post

Interested in learning more about organizing a special issue? Then you should read the editorial by Klofsten & #Vanhaverbeke. This editorial provides insights for academics considering the role of a guest editor for a special issue in Technovation, an interdisciplinary journal dedicated to technological innovation and entrepreneurship. As a guest editor, you have the opportunity to thoroughly explore exciting themes, introduce innovative approaches, and catalyze new research avenues. The editorial also offers guidance on what defines a ‘special’ issue, the balancing act in its scope, and the importance of a well-defined theme to attract quality submissions. Additionally, it examines the roles, management, and responsibilities of guest editors, emphasizing the need for diverse and international guest editor teams. Practical advice on writing the editorial and insights from the author’s experience as a special issue editor contribute to the understanding and successful execution of the guest editor role. https://lnkd.in/dr8HuUkW

Please share widely for those who may find the new Toolkit useful.

We all know how stressful it is when you're waiting for an editorial decision on your paper. And unfortunately, scientists now seem to be waiting even longer. Why? And what can you do? Well, it's generally not the complete fault of the journal editor. Most editors know how important it is to make their decisions well and quickly. However, they are now more overwhelmed with submissions than ever. While the launch of new journals is exploding, the editorial capacity to cope isn't keeping pace. That's not the fault of the editors. We've seen several instances recently where journal editors have been taking three months or more to make decisions on appeals. It can be longer if they're waiting for reviews. So - if you're fed up of waiting, can you do anything about it? Short answer is yes. If your emails to the editor are hitting a brick wall, email them again, and Cc the Editor-in-Chief of the journal (you can find their details on the journal website). Be polite, but firm, and explain how long you've been waiting, and, if you really can't wait much longer, give them a reasonable (~1 week) deadline for a decision. It also won't hurt to point out that there are plenty more journals in the sea. It's up to you to say when enough is enough. And it's up to the journals to value their customers, authors, reviewers and editors enough to ensure they are providing a valuable service and not acting as a barrier to progress in science. If you want tailored advice and support on your papers (and grants), reach out to one of our former journal editors, who will give you open, and timely(!), feedback. www.lifescienceeditors.com

NAVIGATING EDITORIAL DISAGREEMENTS: A CASE STUDY ON AUTHOR-EDITOR DYNAMICS Navigating author-editor disagreements in scholarly publishing: COPE guidance on editorial changes, compliance, and transparent communication for resolving conflicts in the review process. https://lnkd.in/d4t7T2c4

The EiC and the editorial board steer the journal together towards its vision and mission. While the EiC sets the editorial vision and develop the editorial strategy, the editorial board support the EiC as an advisory body. The EiC and the editorial board are responsible for managing the content (by overseeing the peer-review process, involving in final publication decisions, and editing and curating content), among other things. So, as a researcher, what should you look for while assessing the fit of a journal for publication? Individual expertise: Are the board members recognized experts in your specific research area? Do their publications align with your research topic? You can check their profiles on academic databases or the journal website. Collective expertise: Does the board represent a diverse range of perspectives and subfields within your research area? This ensures a well-rounded review process. Board make-up: Is the editorial board sufficiently diverse in terms of the institution or country? If the board skews towards a particular country or an institution, it might be a bad sign. Integrity: Are there allegations against any of the board members of the EiC? No reputable journal will have a tainted member in its board or as the EiC. But if you find one, then you may have to rethink your decision to submit to that journal. A journal with a compromised editorial board (including the EiC) may lose its indexing status sooner or later. It may be better to err on the side of caution and skip that journal. #journalselection #academicjournals #editorialboard #editorinchief #phdjourney

Announcement: Launch of A Focused Toolkit for Journal Editors and Publishers: Building Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility in Editorial Roles and Peer Review C4DISC is delighted to announce the launch of this valuable new resource in the growing C4DISC Toolkit for Equity Series. This new toolkit aims to support all those seeking to build a more inclusive editorial and reviewer community. The toolkit recommends practical and relevant actions for editors and publishers to take to create broad representation on editorial boards and to ensure fairness and minimization of bias in the peer review process. Five major recommendations are explored: 1) Actions to develop an inclusive culture and mission 2) Steps on collecting and reporting demographic data to guide goal setting and actions to increase diversity 3) Recruiting broadly and intentionally to increase participation from marginalized communities 4) Creating opportunities for experience and growing skills in core scholarship areas 5) Actions based on resources such as bias-free language guidelines and more equitable peer review models to increase equity in the peer review process. Translations of this toolkit in Spanish and Portuguese will be coming soon. The original idea for this toolkit came from the Outreach Subcommittee of the Society for Scholarly Publishing Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Committee. Thanks are due to the subcommittee members, to all the volunteers who worked so hard to realize this valuable resource, and especially to Susan Harris and Shaina Lange, who led the creation of the toolkit. Please share this resource with others in your organization and/or network who may find it useful. https://lnkd.in/eXfWB4_V

🚨 New Blog Post Alert! 🚨 Editors are quitting; an opinion 📰 In our previous report (https://lnkd.in/eGJP7K69), we uncovered the troubling trend of mass resignations among editorial teams in academic journals. From 2023 to May 2024, numerous publications faced these resignations due to disputes over editorial policies, increased publication pressure, and financial decisions. These events highlight a growing rift between publishers and editors, driven by conflicts over the direction and standards of academic publishing. 📚 It's important to explore potential solutions to these issues and discuss how the academic community can play a role in addressing them. 🧐 As members of the academic community, we need to consider the future of academia. To drive change, our publication choices should reflect our values. We need to prioritize the quality of publications over the prestige of publication venues and support practices that align with our principles. Read the full article on our website to learn more about how we can collectively shape the future of academic publishing. https://lnkd.in/ehxNzitk

To become an associate editor in a top journal, follow these steps: 1. Form a diverse team of three colleagues from different institutions and countries. 2️. Choose a compelling topic aligned with the journal’s goals, aiming for increased readership and citations. 3️.  Craft a concise, impactful one-page proposal emphasizing the topic’s significance, linking it to broader themes like the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. 4️. Enhance the proposal with a brief biography of your guest editorial team, highlighting their relevant achievements. 5️. Submit the proposal to the journal's editor-in-chief and compile a database of potential reviewers recommended by your team. #Success #Reesearch #Team #Collaboration #Writing #Education

Learn the key skills for communicating complex medical info to the public with this course on medical and healthcare journalism. Focuses on clear, accurate, and ethical writing to engage readers. Enroll at https://lnkd.in/dNHYDmWn #MedicalWriting #HealthJournalism #ScienceCommunication #HealthLiteracy 🏥✍️

Learn the key skills for communicating complex medical info to the public with this course on medical and healthcare journalism. Focuses on clear, accurate, and ethical writing to engage readers. Enroll at https://lnkd.in/dNHYDmWn #MedicalWriting #HealthJournalism #ScienceCommunication #HealthLiteracy 🏥✍️