Appointment of new editor for International Sociology — LIMITE : 20/10/2014
The ISA journal International Sociology is looking for a new editor to succeed Christine Inglis, the retiring editor, at a time to be agreed in 2015. Are you interested in the editorship yourself, or do you know someone else that you think would do a good job?
How to apply
There is no official form to complete when making an application, but there are a number of topics that should be covered in what you submit:
- Your cv (at a length not greater than 2 pages), including information on your main recent published articles.
- Your research interests
- Any experience you have in the running of journals
- Your experience in the ISA, and any other international activities
- Good academic English is essential. Please indicate other languages in which you have adequate reading knowledge.
- Your ideas for the future development of International Sociology
- The general character of your departmental base, and its resources. What kinds and level of support will it be able to offer, whether financial or in terms of resources provided, if you are appointed? A letter specifying this, from your Head of Department, Dean, or other relevant officer, is required as part of your application. Please also indicate whether or not there are any local taxes or charges (e.g. for overheads), and if so whether the ISA can, as a non-profit charitable body, claim exemption from them.
The deadline for submitting an application, which should be sent to isa@isa-sociology.org, is September 15, 2014. Extended October 20, 2014
The term of office is three or four years, with possible renewal. This may start at any mutually agreeable date in 2015; please indicate any constraints on the time at which you could start.
The journal and its editorial tasks
International Sociology (IS) was established in 1986. It is a highly ranked peer reviewed journal whose aim is to reflect the theoretical and empirical diversity of international sociology. Particularly welcome are papers which explore contemporary social challenges and transformations affecting global society or which indicate how an international perspective can provide fresh insights contributing to the development of international sociological theory and knowledge. As the journal caters for the diverse sociological community it welcomes theoretical contributions as well as more empirical papers using qualitative and quantitative approaches.
The Editor is responsible for the content and production of IS, which currently appears four times a year. This involves encouraging the submission of papers for potential publication, as well as organising the refereeing and selection of papers for inclusion. Currently the submissions amount to about 200 hundred per year. Once papers are accepted for publication, SAGE Publications then organises the publication process, with final copy-editing and organisation of the translation of abstracts into French and English being undertaken by the Editor. The Editor is a member of, and reports to, the Publications Committee of the ISA, and liaises with Editorial Board members. Given the increasing pressures to publish internationally the Editor has also more recently become involved in providing professional development workshops designed to increase the quality of the submissions received.
The editor will need to set up office arrangements and assistance in accordance with needs and local practice, and manage the budget provided from local and/or ISA sources. S/he should have access to e-mail, and preferably also occasional electronic/video-conferencing. It is expected that the editor’s institution will provide some substantial support, to include at least free office space and IT facilities. Costs which can be supported by ISA include editorial assistance, office expenses and some translation.
Travel and registration expenses are paid for attendance at ISA meetings held once a year. The editor receives an annual personal honorarium of €1000.
More detail on some points is given in the official letter of appointment, the relevant parts of which are these:
It is expected that you should
- Apply ISA’s general policies for the relevant circumstances in the situations that arise. You are expected to remain a member in good standing of the ISA, and to observe its Statutes’ provisions as well as policy decisions made by the Executive.
- Observe the ISA Code of Ethics as applicable in the editing of the journal, and ensure that contributing editors and authors are also aware of its relevant provisions. (Be alert to the possibility of the issue of plagiarism arising.)
- Set up and run a local office as required, in accordance with local needs and practice
- Some local support from your own institution is essential. Negotiate the details of what was offered in your response to the call for editorial candidates, and maintain local contacts to promote its satisfactory continuation. If any problems arise, inform the VPs for Publications and Finance at an early stage.
- Request the funds needed from ISA, with supporting documentation as appropriate; ISA will strive to respond to differences in local costs and facilities, within the broad budgetary allocation for publications. Do not expend, or make commitments to expend, funds additional to those allocated in total, or for purposes other than those specified except where policy permits virement. (If necessary, budgetary provisions may be increased by agreement.)
- Provide for audit purposes whatever accounts, invoices and receipts are specified by the VP Finance or the Executive Secretary.
- Consider ways of ensuring continuity of production of the journal despite potential disruptions by such matters as illness, or academic commitments away from your home base. If possible it would be a good idea to appoint a deputy editor who learns enough about the journal’s routine to be able to stand in for you for a short time when necessary.
- As far as possible you should give at least 6 months’ notice of any factors disrupting your term of office, and ISA will aim to give at least 6 months’ notice of renewal or non-renewal. (However, ISA retains the right to put an end to your term if for any reason the journal appears not to be being satisfactorily run.)
- Take responsibility for organising the process of peer review of papers submitted, and making final decisions on the papers to accept.
- Commission papers, arrange guest editorships and introduce novel types of item as you decide, but in accordance with general policy agreed with the Publications Committee.
- Do what is needed to ensure a steady flow of suitable material for the journal, so that each issue may be produced at the time advertised, in the agreed format, in accordance with the publisher’s procedures and general Memorandum of Agreement with ISA
- Maintain an editorial board of appropriate subdisciplinary and international composition, and arrange both continuity and regular turnover among its members.
- Take opportunities that arise to publicise and market the journal, liaising where appropriate with the publisher.
- Attend conferences from time to time for journal purposes, as arranged with editorial colleagues and the Vice-President for Publications.
- Maintain liaison with the Vice Presidents for Publications and for Finance, and with the publisher.
- Attend the annual meeting of the Publications Committee, and provide it with a full written report on the journal and on its financial expenditure.
- When your term of office approaches its end, ensure that the journal files are in good order and liaise with your successor to arrange an orderly handover. Consult the office about archival policy for those not passed on.