When is an online editorial management system necessary? Many academic journal editors struggle with the question of whether it is necessary to convert to a web-based peer review system. While it's no secret that the peer review process can be heavy on administrative...

Inviting external reviewers: how many? when?   Upon receiving a new manuscript, a chain reaction is set into motion. The editorial staff will typically contact an Editor-in-Chief, and either this editor or an Associate Editor will then be responsible for inviting...

Peer review is the key to maintaining the high academic standards of our scholarly journals, yet how often do we think about the external reviewer experience”?   External reviewers participate in peer review out of a sense of commitment to their area of expertise, and...

Co-editors: how do I choose the ideal number? Many journal editors struggle with deciding exactly how many "associate" or "co-editors" are needed for their journal. Examining two factors may ultimately help determine that ideal number. Take a look at your journal's...

Deciding your journal's Review Time There has been a big push over the last 10 years to get academic work published as quickly as possible. As time to publication becomes more and more critical, there is a trend to make review times shorter now than before. How short...

Single blind, Double blind or open? When it comes to choosing the reviewer confidentiality for your journal, there are typically three options: Single Blind, Double Blind and Open.  A short description of the pros and cons of each follows:   Single blind In a “Single...

External reviewers all have specific areas of expertise, but the way in which we request that these specialities be registered can have a big impact on both the journal and the reviewer experience. The peer review process is full of pitfalls that can waste valuable...

Considerations when checking for plagiarism As an editor, when is it worth your while to check for plagiarism and when is intuitive screening enough? Online plagiarism tools can be extremely useful, but does every manuscript need to be checked? Costs are to be weighed...