Definition · Plain-language
Editorial Board
An editorial board is a group of prominent scholars and experts who support an academic journal. Led by the editor-in-chief, board members assist with peer review, act as ambassadors, advise on journal policy, and handle manuscript submissions within their specific subfields.
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Structure and Roles Within the Board
An editorial board contains several levels of responsibility. While the editor-in-chief sets the overarching policy, associate editors or section editors manage the peer review process for individual submissions in their subfields. Advisory board members, often senior scholars, provide strategic direction, and general board members review manuscripts and support the journal's growth.
Key Duties and Responsibilities
The daily duties of board members include evaluating incoming manuscripts, selecting appropriate peer reviewers, assessing conflicting referee reports, and making acceptance recommendations to the editor-in-chief. They also participate in annual meetings to discuss formatting guidelines, indexing status, open-access policies, and strategies to improve review turnaround times.
Selection and Recruitment of Board Members
Scholars are appointed to the editorial board based on their academic reputation, publication record, and active participation in peer review. The editor-in-chief seeks to build a diverse board representing different geographic regions, institutional backgrounds, and subfields, ensuring the journal can handle a wide variety of submissions with appropriate expertise.
Key facts
At a glance
- Editorial boards comprise active researchers who are experts in the journal's subject area.
- Members help maintain standards by managing peer reviews or reviewing papers directly.
- The board advises the editor-in-chief on policy, scope changes, and ethical guidelines.
- Membership is a prestigious, voluntary role that counts toward academic service.
- A diverse board ensures coverage of various subfields, geographic regions, and methodologies.
Common misconceptions
What people often get wrong
Often heard: All editorial board members review every paper submitted to the journal.
Actually: Manuscripts are distributed among board members based on their specific expertise; a member will only handle or review a tiny fraction of the submissions.
Often heard: Editorial board members get paid a salary for their contributions.
Actually: For the vast majority of academic journals, editorial board membership is an unpaid service role performed for professional development and community contribution.
Often heard: Being on an editorial board guarantees that your own papers will be accepted by the journal.
Actually: Board members' submissions undergo the same rigorous, often double-blind, peer review process, with strict protocols to prevent conflicts of interest.
