The Regional Studies Association (RSA) seeks to appoint Editors in two different categories for the international journal Regional Studies (RS) published by Routledge:
Editors (three positions available)
The Editors support the Editor-in-Chief, David Bailey (University of Birmingham, UK), in managing the peer review of submissions in their area of expertise, enhancing the journal’s reputation as a world-leading publication in the field of regional studies, and ensuring that it is in a position to attract the best authors and papers for its readership.
Policy Debates Editor (one position available)
The Policy Debates Editor will primarily be responsible for the Policy Debates section of the journal, which is a periodic section that provides a forum for analysis and debate about important policy issues of international relevance in urban and regional development. The Policy Debates Editor will be expected to commission appropriate topical, high-quality articles from authors in academia and beyond for submission to the journal, manage the rigorous peer review of these submissions and support the dissemination of published articles.
The Policy Debates Editor will also occasionally be called on to support the existing team of Editors in managing the peer review of general submissions in their area of expertise, enhancing the journal’s reputation as a world-leading publication in the field of regional studies, and ensuring that it is in a position to attract the best authors and papers for its readership.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Responding to the Call for Expressions of Interest
In making expressions of interest candidates are invited to submit a manifesto (maximum 2000 words) setting out:
- Their ideas for the journal, including but not limited to:
- The historic and future strengths of the journal and its place in regional studies, broadly defined;
- Article types (review, commissioned, etc.);
- Special issue topics;
- Sections within the journal (essential for Policy Debates Editor);
- Article length and other general instructions to authors;
- How the journal can have impact and be made more relevant to policy makers.
- Any existing editorial experience and in particular any experience of managing the peer review processes. Any knowledge of legal and ethical issues in scholarly publishing should be outlined.
- Any institutional support available, including any time allowance to undertake the editorial role.
Full CVs should be attached – these may be in summary form but should give enough information to demonstrate embeddedness in the field, e.g. information about networks, conferences attended, relevant publications, professional memberships, etc.
Interested applicants with questions about the journal are invited to contact: Sally Hardy, Chief Executive, RSA, sally.hardy@regionalstudies.org or by telephoning + 44 (0)1273 698017
Please send your applications (manifesto & CV) to Klara – klara.sobekova@regionalstudies.org (subject line: Call for Editor, Regional Studies)
Closing Date: 5pm (GMT) Wednesday, 16th December 2020.
The successful candidates appointed to all positions will be expected to join the RSA as Members throughout their term. Current non-Members may apply. Further details on are available from the Regional Studies Association Office or from the Association website at https://www.regionalstudies.org/about/memberships/
JOURNAL INFORMATION
Regional Studies has a significant circulation footprint and far-reaching impact. It is distributed and promoted with its RSA sister journals, Territory, Politics, Governance; Spatial Economic Analysis, the gold open access journal, Regional Studies, Regional Science and the newly launched Area Development and Policy.
Regional Studies is a leading international journal covering the development of theories and concepts, empirical analysis and policy debate in the field of regional studies. The journal publishes original research spanning the economic, social, political and environmental dimensions of urban and regional (sub-national) change. The distinctive purpose of Regional Studies is to connect insights across intellectual disciplines in a systematic and grounded way to understand how and why regions and cities evolve. It publishes research that distils how economic and political processes and outcomes are contingent upon regional and local circumstances. The journal is a pluralist forum, which showcases diverse perspectives and analytical techniques.
Essential criteria for papers to be accepted for Regional Studies are that they make a substantive contribution to scholarly debates, are sub-national in focus, conceptually well informed, empirically grounded and methodologically sound. Submissions are also expected to engage with wider debates that advance the field of regional studies and are of interest to readers of the journal.
- Urban and Regional Horizons is a periodic section dedicated to agenda-setting work that stimulates new thinking and novel approaches to addressing the big intellectual questions, issues and challenges in regional studies.
- Policy Debates is a periodic section that provides a forum for analysis and debate about important policy issues of international relevance in urban and regional development.
- Special Issues draw together contributions around key themes in regional studies from established and emerging researchers in the field.
- Book Reviews provide analysis and comment on key recent publications in regional studies.
Impact Factor The 2019 Impact Factor is 3.312, ranking Urban & Regional Planning 8/39, Geography 14/84, Economics 50/371 and Environmental Studies 34/123.
The journal was launched in 1967 and publishes 12 annual issues. The journal uses a fully supported online submission programme (ScholarOne Manuscripts) and is subject to double-blind peer review.
General Issues
The journal is subject to the aims and objects of the Regional Studies Association and the editorial team is expected to have knowledge of the Association’s activities, but the journal maintains editorial independence from the Association. The journal is international in scope and the editorial team and Editorial Advisory Board reflect this international reach. The day-to-day running of Regional Studies is supported by an Executive Editor and a peer review administration assistant.
Contractual Terms
The editorial team for Regional Studies has a formal contractual relationship with the Regional Studies Association. This contract sets out the role and responsibilities of the Editors, the Association and the publishers. It will also set out the terms of the contract and the financial arrangements.
The editorial team receives editorial expenses to cover their costs in editing the journal. Monies not required to attend editorial meetings may be spent in the general promotion of the journal, for example through conference and other travel by Editors.
Management
The Association has experience of managing five journals a magazine and book series. Its structures and methods have worked well to support and protect editorial teams while providing freedom of editorial decision making.
The Editor in Chief of the journal has a place on the Regional Studies Association Publication Committee and on the Board of the Association.
The editorial team report to the Publication Committee which oversees the day-to-day management of the Association’s journals including such matters as the negotiation of contracts and decisions on changes to the major format of the journals, for example increases in frequency or change in layout or design. Decisions are taken in close collaboration with the Editors of the publications. The Publication Committee also takes a lead on any legal or similar issues that are raised such as unattributed copying and redundant publishing.
The Publication Committee does not interfere with editorial decisions.
Within the RSA office the Chief Executive takes responsibility for the journal publishing programme assisted by other colleagues.
Promotion of the Journal
This is primarily delivered by the publishers but all parties participate in terms of strategy and approach. The Editors will be expected to play a role in building the reputation of the journal through participating in “Meet the Editors” sessions at major conferences, writing calls for papers, etc. Editors would not be expected to draw up detailed marketing plans or to deliver them.
Financial Management of the Journal
The Editors are not expected to be involved in the financial management of the journal other than in the transparent management of editorial expenses allocated to them. This function is managed by the Regional Studies Association office and the publisher. The Editors do not carry the financial risk of the journal.