G5-processing

Type: Academic Journal
A top-tier academic journal will have one or more general editors, a managing editor, (support staff), copy-editor, typesetter, peer reviewers, and authors.

The articles for an academic journal might be solicited by the general editors or submitted by experts in the field who would like to be published.

Selection occurs in several stages. First, the managing editor builds files and sorts the manuscripts; he does not make decisions, but he groups the manuscripts in terms of likely relevance or fit for the publication. Then the general editors review the selected manuscripts. Those they judge worth further consideration are sent out to external peer reviewers. When the readers' reports come back, the general editor reviews these and determines whether to reject, accept, or request revision.

Once an article is accepted for publication it goes to the copy editor. This person must fact check the article and edit it for clarity, consistency, and adherence to house style. The article is now a "candidate" for some future issue of the journal. Minor changes are made by the copy-editor on paper; major changes require information or approval from the author. The managing editor coordinates communication, supervises the entry of changes onto a master file, and keeps the file. He or she also insures that rights for images and other materials have been obtained. When the piece is in final form, he or she alerts the general editors.

The general editors select and arrange the articles for a given issue (months in advance). An outside consultant will design the publication. The managing editor and staff, perhaps also the general editor, will approve the final proofs before publication.