How are Editors Selected, Recruited and Approved?

Area of Science:

• Scholarly publishing
• Research ethics
• Editorial standards

Background:

• Journal editors are responsible for upholding research ethics and integrity.
• Editors must ensure transparency and honesty in reporting research findings.
• Current publisher practices lack clear selection criteria for journal editors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To discuss essential factors publishers should consider when selecting scholarly journal editors.
• To advocate for the public disclosure of editor selection criteria for enhanced accountability.
• To restore public trust in scientific research and protect the reputations of publishers and editors.

Main Methods:

• Review of publisher websites to assess current editor selection criteria.
• Discussion of ethical obligations and responsibilities of journal editors.
• Analysis of the impact of editor selection on public trust and research integrity.

Main Results:

• A notable absence of explicit selection criteria for journal editors was observed across publisher websites.
• Editors play a crucial role as guardians of research ethics, necessitating rigorous selection processes.
• Publicly available criteria for editor selection are currently lacking, impacting accountability.

Conclusions:

• Publishers must implement and publicize transparent criteria for selecting journal editors.
• Establishing clear selection standards will fortify confidence in editorial boards and research integrity.
• Public accountability in editor selection is vital for restoring and maintaining trust in scientific publishing.