Editors

Editorial Board members are selected by the journal’s editor(s), with input from the publisher. Editorial boards generally undergo a complete revision every two or three years, with members joining, stepping down or continuing for another term. Changes also occur in the interim, for example if a member resigns.

A journal’s editorial board can affect its quality, so editors should consider the following:

• The location of board members should represent the reach of the journal
• Board members’ expertise should represent the journal’s scope
• Representatives should be appointed from key research institutes
• Former guest editors of special issues, and authors of key reviews, and top reviewers may be suitable
• Existing board members may have suggestions for new members

If you’re interested in joining a journal’s editorial board, locate the journal, and contact the editor via the Editorial Board listings page.

In your role you should:

• Ensure a supply of high-quality manuscripts to Elsevier in quantities that are able to maintain the publishing schedule of the journal. If insufficient manuscripts are being submitted, then you should discuss how to address this with your publishing contract.
• Ensure that the subject matter of the manuscripts reflects any changes of direction in the field of study to incorporate newly-emerging work (this may necessitate inviting articles or special issues).
• Conduct your activities in accordance with generally accepted industry standards for integrity and objectivity and with the policies of the journal and the publisher. We further recommend that you consult the COPE short guide to ethical editing.
• Select the Editorial Board, in co-operation with your publishing contract.
• Continually engage the Editorial Board on the progress of the journal and update and include them on ideas for editorial development. The Editorial Board should be involved formally through an annual Editorial Board meeting or informally in ad hoc meetings and discussions.
• Provide strategic input into your journal’s development. Your publishing contract will be in touch regularly to report on the journal’s performance and suggest possible strategies for development, as well as discuss your suggestions.
• Highlight commercial advertising, supplement, and reprint opportunities, if these form important sources of income for your journal.
• Promote the journal to peers and colleagues.

In general, a journal will have multiple editors if it is:

• Very large, and the number of submissions is too great for one editor to handle, and/or
• The scope of the journal is so broad that it is not possible for one editor to make informed decisions about submissions in all subject areas.

Multiple editors may sit between the Editor(s)-in-Chief and the Editorial Board, and can also be referred to as:

• Co-Editors
• Associate Editors
• Section Editors
• Editorial Advisors
• Editorial Committee Members

If you are working with additional editors, then papers may be divided between you on the basis of:

• Geographical origin.
• Specialization.
• Type of contribution, such as original articles or reviews.
• Equal division of labor.

Multiple editors may have different roles, depending on the journal. Your publishing contract will be able to advise you on these.