Editorial: Journals and more journals

by Geoff Hart

Previously published as: Hart, G. 2001. Editorial: Journals and more journals. the Exchange 8(2):2.

Back once again is prolific author Gary Michael Smith, who has provided the first in a two-part series on journal submission guidelines. In this issue, Gary discusses how to create the guidelines; in the next issue, he’ll conclude with an article on how journal staff should work with authors to ensure compliance with these guidelines. How do you get to be part of a journal’s staff? Why not apply for the STC “journal editor fellowship program”, a program designed to provide new journal editors with financial and other support for the first year of their job. Details appear in the June 2001 issue of Intercom, but you can also find out more on the STC Web site (www.stc.org/PDF_Files/101-00.pdf ) or contact Lottie Applewhite (lottieapplewhite@mindspring.com) for details.

Dan Wise, a senior member and eminence grise in the SIG concludes this issue with his opinions on the recent Council of Science Editors publication, Levels of technical editing. Dan is also working with Marilyn O’Leary, another SIG member, to summarize some of the debate that’s arisen lately on the merits and demerits of online publishing of scientific papers. Keep your eyes open for these articles, hopefully by the end of the year.

It was great to meet so many of you at the STC conference in Chicago. Apparently our SIG is now closing on 800 members, a healthy number. Many of us were at the conference, judging by the number of people I spoke to. If you can make it to next year’s conference, I encourage you to do so; it’s an unparalleled opportunity to meet and talk to kindred spirits.

I’d like to pass along regrets from Amy Burdan, our SIG manager. Amy had fully intended to provide her first contribution to the newsletter, but life had other plans. With luck, we’ll have something in the next issue.

My essays on scientific communication have now been collected in the following book:

Hart, G. 2011. Exchanges: 10 years of essays on scientific communication. Diaskeuasis Publishing, Pointe-Claire, Que. Printed version, 242 p.; eBook in PDF format, 327 p.