EDITORIAL MANAGEMENT OF ONLINE SCHOLARLY JOURNALS

EDITORIAL MANAGEMENT OF ONLINE SCHOLARLY JOURNALS

by

Helena Asamoah-HassanUniversity Librarian, KNUST and Member, JUST Editorial Boardat theINASP Journal Editors Workshop ,8-10 September, 2008, at KNUST, Kumasi

WHAT IS A SCHOLARY JOURNAL?…

A presentation of peer reviewed articles of scholarship in a specific or several subject areas.

A medium where results of new research is shared – enabling other research to be built upon it.

A forum where articles stating on going research are featured serially as the research progresses.

A medium where a critique of existing research result is presented.

WHAT IS A SCHOLARY JOURNAL?…

A medium for sharing created or improved knowledge

A method of keeping a record of scholarly activity.

A means of enriching one’s own research area.

A medium where the scholarly output of an institution is portrayed.

WHAT IS A SCHOLARY JOURNAL?

A means for making local research available, and making local researchers visible globally.

It may feature research output, review articles, book reviews and related advertisements.

TYPES OF SCHOLARLY JOURNALS

Print Electronic

- Online Databases

-Aggregators –Ebsco

-Commercial – Emerald, OUP- Free - Hinari, Agora, - Open Access - DOAJ

-Online Journal

- Commercial –Institute of Physics

- Free - Cochrane- Open Access- First Monday

WHAT IS AN ONLINE JOURNAL?…

A scholarly journal whose contents is made available through the use of computers and internet connectivity.

Access to it may be at a price or for free.

Gaining ground in the past 2 years especially for scientific journals.

Some print journals publish e-versions.

WHAT IS AN ONLINE JOURNAL?

Some scholarly journals are published only in electronic formats.

Some on line journals are on Open Access and are increasing by the day.

Open Access online journals are peer reviewed and

-access is free

-enable developing countries to have

access to research output from the

north

WHAT IS AN ONLINE JOURNAL?

-enable research output from the south to be made available globally.

-enhances collaboration of researchers from the north and south.

ISSUES ABOUT ONLINE SCHOLARLY JOURNALS…

The journal is available for use earlier than its printed version.

Adds value to the article as graphs, graphics and 3-D drawings appear better and more read than in print.

Cheap to produce but maintaining it comes with a cost.

Young scholars see it as strong means for the exposure of scholarly results.

ISSUES ABOUT ONLINE SCHOLARLY JOURNALS…

Easy for an article to be linked with references of related articles in the electronic arena.

Not yet been fully accepted by some academics as a scholarly enough mode of publication especially those on Open Access.

Long term archiving is still a problem.

ISSUES ABOUT ONLINE SCHOLARLY JOURNALS

Users without hardware and internet connectivity cannot access it.

Editor and reviewers need to have knowledge of computing.

If there is not enough sponsorship it cannot survive, especially those on Open Access.

EDITING ONLINE SCHOLARLY JOURNALS –MANAGERIAL ISSUES…

Every journal has its own house style especially for Abstracts, Number of pages, Line spacing, Referencing, Deadlines for submission, etc that authors must adhere to.

The Editor needs to consider some managerial issues like

- having work plans with deadlines.

EDITING ONLINE SCHOLARLY JOURNALS –MANAGERIAL ISSUES

-properly demarcating responsibilities and tasks.

- having a good forward planning budget.

- being committed and ready to make some

sacrifices.

- Ensuring strict reviewing for a good quality journal.

- having a strong and knowledgeable Editorial Board for credibility.

- Deciding and choosing effective administrative and editorial support team for optimum results.

EDITING ONLINE SCHOLARLY JOURNALS –CONTENT ISSUES…

Maintaining effective communication with authors.

Deciding and maintaining the quality of the journal’s content with the assistance of the reviewers.

Doing initial general review of the paper to reject it or pass it on for reviewing, looking out for the following: If

EDITING ONLINE SCHOLARLY JOURNALS –CONTENT ISSUES

-the research result adds to or challenges existing knowledge.

-the outcome of the research is reliable, worth sticking out one’s neck for or worth disseminating.

-the sensibilities or effects on the readers have been considered in the write up.

- The author has adequately investigated and got all necessary permissions to publish the research findings.

- It is ethically right to publish the research findings.

EDITING ONLINE SCHOLARLY JOURNALS –GENERAL OUTLOOK

An informative abstract that the reader can get what the author is putting across when he does not even read the article.

A clearly presented, fluid, prose writing concise and well focused content.

Easy reading style of writing, with no ambiguities, to eliminate misinterpretation of facts.

Good English with good construction, no typographical errors.


Sound logic and arguments.

Well acknowledged sources of information.

Thorough documentation of evidence (result of research).

Accurate presentation of information especially with parallel information so that the reader is able to draw the line in between them and still understand.

Data, figures, graphs, tables, etc are arranged logically and are relevant to the text.


File sizes must not be too large to enable easy downloading.

Simple layout (colours, type size & formatting).

Short paragraphs and sentences (for easy online

reading).

Make virus check first in attaching files.

Conclusions arrived at must be reliable.

Properly arranged references with accurate dates and in the house style of presenting references.


Complete citation (metadata) just below the abstract to enable correct citing.

Prompt publishing, capability for making corrections on time and online even after the issue is out.

Respect for the confidentiality of authors and users as to the passing of their contact details to others without their permission.

EDITING ONLINE SCHOLARLY JOURNALS –REVIEWING…

Reviewing and editing are very important quality control measures to give a journal credibility.

Blind reviews is a must to prevent negative or positive biases.

Editor must read all articles approved by reviewers.

Need to have a guest editor(s) for disciplines that the Editor is not conversant with so that they read such articles, approved by reviewers.

EDITING ONLINE SCHOLARLY JOURNALS –REVIEWING

Articles must be reviewed by at least two reviewers, a third one will be best.

Reviewing and editing process must not be rushed. Avoidance of abstractions and concentration are very necessary to ensure a good job.

EDITING ONLINE SCHOLARLY JOURNALS - CHALLENGES …

Going online and loss of subscribers.

Going online and loss of authors and reviewers.

Learning how to use the online editing software

How to avoid reviewers with bias for or against the article.

When reviewers do not carry out reviews on time.


Making the journal independent from any school of thought, perspective or ideology.

The selection of an objective Editorial Board to include scholars with proven expertise in producing good quality research.

Ensuring that the Editorial Board does not last so long as to have cliques formed amongst them.

How to schedule a journal – format (use of vol. issue or year) and frequency.


Rejecting the paper of a member of the Editorial Board that reviewers have turned down.

Ensuring strict peer-reviewing to maintain good quality, non interference from “high’’ places.

When a journal is multidisciplinary and so presents different methods of writing out research results and how to edit such articles.

An article with good content but poor communication of its contents, mixed up ideas and deciding if to send it for review or reject it at the pre-review stage.


Length of an article vis a vis quality of content –should be long enough to accomplish the stated purpose.

Drawing a line between editing and publishing - they are different aspects of getting a journal produced.

How to demarcate responsibilities and tasks.

How to allocate time for editing and for regular job.


Use of the institution’s staff time, office space, equipment and stationery- are they adequate, are they to be used at a cost? Are staff released from other duties to handle editing process?

Editor expected to donate his time because of lack of funds.

Deciding to edit for free or at a fee.

EDITING ONLINE SCHOLARLY JOURNALS - CHALLENGES

Scouting for adverts as subsidy for the cost of production.

Competition at the international market place and ensuring its marketability.

Continual dependence on parent institution for financial support.

Accept or refuse funding from agencies that the journal’s articles may criticise.

JOYS OF EDITING AN ONLINE SCHOLARLY JOURNAL

Excitement in editing new research results.

Excitement in working with several and new scholars in various disciplines and so knowing a lot of scholars.

Opportunity to encourage new research in a new field.

Improved career advancement and status of the editor.

Gaining great experience, acquiring knowledge, recognition and exposure.

Enhancement of resume.

Thank you!!! Any questions?

EDITORIAL MANAGEMENT OF ONLINE SCHOLARLY JOURNALS

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