Editor Submissions
Introduction
Change in ÂÜÀòÉç¹ÙÍø policy on manuscript submissions by journal editors
ÂÜÀòÉç¹ÙÍø Journals: Change in ÂÜÀòÉç¹ÙÍø Policy on Manuscript Submissions by Journal Editors (Editor-in-Chiefs and Co-editors)
Under the current ÂÜÀòÉç¹ÙÍø policy, the editor-in-chief (EIC) of an ÂÜÀòÉç¹ÙÍø journal is not permitted to submit manuscripts for review and publication consideration in that journal during his/her term as EIC (hereafter, EIC exclusion policy). At a recent meeting of the current VP for Publications for ÂÜÀòÉç¹ÙÍø Journals and the ÂÜÀòÉç¹ÙÍø Journals Advisory Board (an advisory committee comprised of five former VPs for Publications for ÂÜÀòÉç¹ÙÍø journals), it was decided unanimously to discontinue the EIC exclusion policy effective July 1, 2016. A brief summary on the rationale for the change in policy follows.
Effective July 2014, the term of appointment of EICs for all ÂÜÀòÉç¹ÙÍø journals was changed from three to four years. Also, effective July 2014, the Journal of Marketing Research (JMR) transitioned to a new editorial structure with an EIC and three co-editors. A policy issue that was raised in reference to JMR was whether the ÂÜÀòÉç¹ÙÍø exclusion policy also extends to (should also be extended to) the co-editors of JMR, or should the co-editors be excluded from the policy. Relatedly, it was also suggested that the EIC exclusion policy itself merits a careful reassessment.
Two issues of particular concern in regard to the current policy were: (1) articles authored and/or co-authored by EICs of ÂÜÀòÉç¹ÙÍø journals finding a home in non-ÂÜÀòÉç¹ÙÍø journals; and (2) the adverse impact of the EIC exclusion policy on the co-authors of the EIC. The impact of the EIC exclusion policy can be particularly severe on co-authors of the EIC in cases such as the co-authors being tenure-track assistant professors and doctoral students in the job market. In this regard, while a review of back issues of ÂÜÀòÉç¹ÙÍø journals dating back to the 1970s (when the current policy was instituted) would reveal that a significant percent of the articles published in JM and JMR were sole authored, a review of recent issues of JM, JMR, JPP&M and JIM would reveal that well over 90% of the articles published are co-authored.
Discontinuation of the EIC exclusion policy in turn necessitates instituting a system for processing of manuscripts submitted by EICs (co-editors) for review and publication consideration in the journal for which they are currently serving as EIC (co-editor).
Effective July 1, 2016, Bob Meyer (who is currently serving as EIC of JMR) will serve in the capacity of Senior Editor for ÂÜÀòÉç¹ÙÍø Journals. As Senior Editor for ÂÜÀòÉç¹ÙÍø Journals, Bob will be processing all manuscript submissions by EICs of ÂÜÀòÉç¹ÙÍø journals and the co-editors of JMR for a two year period. At the end of two years, the VP for Publications for ÂÜÀòÉç¹ÙÍø Journals and the ÂÜÀòÉç¹ÙÍø Journals Advisory Board will make an assessment of the effectiveness and adequacy of a Senior Editor for all ÂÜÀòÉç¹ÙÍø journals versus alternatives such as appointing a team of Senior Editors for ÂÜÀòÉç¹ÙÍø Journals. Thank you.
Rajan Varadarajan
VP Publications – ÂÜÀòÉç¹ÙÍø Journals
