Applications for Editor of TESOL Journal Now Being Accepted

by David Cutler |

Applications for editor of the TESOL Journal are now being accepted through 15 April 2021. 

TESOL Journal (TJ) is a peer-reviewed practitioner-oriented online-only journal based on current theory and research in the field of TESOL. Published by Wiley in conjunction with TESOL Press, TJ serves as a forum for additional, second and foreign language educators at all levels to engage in research that informs, shapes, and grounds teaching practices and perspectives in diversity, equity, inclusion, and antiracist practices across multicultural/multilingual contexts. TJ’s readership includes ESOL teacher educators, teacher learners, researchers, applied linguists, and ESOL teachers. It aims at enhancing professional growth for practitioners and reflecting the breadth, diversity, and concerns of the readership. TJ is available to all TESOL members as a key membership benefit, and subscriptions are available for institutions.

TESOL seeks individuals with a broad perspective on the profession, proven organizational abilities, and a deep understanding of the intersections of TESOL research and classroom practice. The Editor(s) is responsible for acquiring and publishing material that meets the needs and interests of the TESOL membership. Wiley will provide the Editor(s) with a managing editor, who will manage copyediting and production. For this position, the Editor receives an honorarium of US$8,000 per year ($2000 per issue, which will be split if co-Editors are chosen) during the three-year term (excluding the first six months for which the Editor(s) is unpaid) along with reimbursement of some expenses to attend the TESOL International Convention & English Language Expo. The Editor’s institution will be required to sign a Statement of Institution Support, providing minimum release time, some travel expenses, office expenses (usually for communication, mailing, office supplies), and graduate student assistance. These requirements are detailed in the Editor’s Agreement.

The search process has three phases:

Phase 1: Applicants submit a letter of application, a curriculum vitae, and the names, titles, and contact information of three referees who can vouch for the applicant’s editorial abilities. The application deadline is 15 April 2021. All applications must be submitted electronically to Ke Xu, Chair of the Search Team at kexu@aol.com. 

Phase 2: The search Team reviews applications, evaluates the applicants, and creates a short list of qualified applicants.

Phase 3: The Search Team interviews short-listed applicants and selects the finalist(s) for Board approval. The finalist(s) will begin their Associate Editor role on 1 July 2021.

Applicants should ensure that they have adequate time to handle the work of the journal without compromising their responsibilities in their salaried positions. The Search Team is particularly interested in receiving applications from TESOL members in good standing who

• have great interest and high aspiration in promoting TESOL’s policies of equity, diversity, inclusion, multicultural/multilingual and antiracist practices;

• are committed to the further development of the mission of the association and the publication by actively identifying and fostering the growth of new authors, especially those from historically marginalized population and geographic locations;

· are culturally responsive to the changing needs of the readership and the trend of the field;

• have a recognized teaching and publication record;

• have an established record of editorial work;

• have basic proficiency with online submission systems such as Scholar One;

• can reconceptualize aspects of the publication in response to membership survey information, and;

• can demonstrate potential for institutional support. For more information, please contact Ke Xu at kexu@aol.com or visit the TESOL Journal website.

Responsibilities of the TESOL Journal Editor

Acquisitions

· Oversee the acquisition of manuscripts through a general call for papers or specific assignment, as appropriate with a specific focus to ensure racial diversity, equity and inclusion for it’s authors and content.

· Fulfill the vision and mandate of TESOL Journal as the primary TESOL member benefit.

· Maintain guidelines for contributors that invite quality manuscripts addressing TJ’s mission.

· Appoint an Editorial Advisory Board (EAB) and departmental editors as needed.

· Direct the EAB regarding the review and selection of quality manuscripts.

· Be the final arbiter for selecting and rejecting manuscripts.

Editing

· Maintain a field office with appropriate staff to use the online manuscript system for each stage of manuscript review and revision.

· Edit manuscripts for content or delegate such responsibilities as necessary.

· Correspond with authors throughout the review and revision process or delegate such responsibility as necessary.

Liaison

· Collaborate with the TESOL’s Group Director, Content and Learning, the Editor’s(s) primary staff partner.

· Guide the mission of the TJ (e.g., expand readership, thereby expanding TESOL membership increase contributor pool, maintain diversity, equity, and inclusion standards).

· Report on the progress of TJ biannually with data from Wiley.

· Establish, promote, and maintain contact with the editors of peer publications.

· Establish, promote, and maintain contact with the TESOL affiliates, interest sections, and general membership

Desirable Qualities in the TESOL Journal Editor

TJ is demanding in intellectual, emotional, and practical ways. The person(s) who assumes the post should possess the following qualities (not listed in rank order):

Scholarly and Technical

· Excellent writing skills: The job requires evaluating and editing the writing of others. The Editor must be able to write clearly and gracefully: An editor who does not write well will have difficulty assessing other writers’ contributions, and his or her editorial judgments will not be respected.

· A track record of strong academic publications, including articles in journals and magazines of similar stature to TJ: An editor who has published widely demonstrates the requisite knowledge of the field and knows how contributors are likely to respond to having their work reviewed, critiqued, and revised.

· A sense of when to work with TESOL and Wiley staff and enough backbone to resist micro-management: The Editor has to be willing to cooperate with the TESOL Staff Partner (in terms of budget and vision), and TESOL’s partner Wiley (for scheduling and production).

· An understanding of the importance of deadlines: TESOL members receive TJ as a member benefit and expect it to appear on time. TESOL’s partner Wiley is responsible for getting the journal to its subscribers on time. Chronically late publications also damage the Association’s reputation with libraries and others in the field. The Editor is responsible for ensuring that TJ appears on schedule, which means enforcing deadlines with reviewers and Associate Editors.

· Financial common sense: The journal operates within a fixed budget. The Editor sometimes has to live with a degree of imperfection (e.g., accepting minor errors in page proofs, doing without unbudgeted personnel).

· A reasonable knowledge of editing principles and APA style: Although a professional copy editor provides support, the Editor should know how to communicate with a contributor, how long a given editorial process may take, and how a scholarly journal is produced. TJ follows the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA 7th ed.). The Editor should be familiar with APA style, understand why a style guide is necessary, and have some idea of how best to apply it.

Effective

· Tact: The Editor must be able to work cordially with production staff and funding sources, TESOL staff, contributors, fellow editors, and editorial boards. The Editor must exercise tact when dealing with the many people necessary to the journal’s success.

· The ability to say “no” to interesting projects when necessary to keep the journal on schedule: The editorship is time-consuming and tightly scheduled. The Editor will not have much extra time for other projects, no matter how interesting they are.

· Thick skin: Contributors may not take kindly to rejection and may resort to ad hominem attacks, and every reader has an opinion about what TJ should include. Therefore, the Editor must be able to withstand intermittent barrages of criticism with grace and good humor.

· A good sense of humor: The Editor must focus simultaneously on large intellectual issues and minute administrative details—every day for 3 years. Past editors have remarked that people only comment on your mistakes, not your achievements. A good sense of humor helps to alleviate stress.

The application deadline is 15 April 2021. All applications must be submitted electronically to Ke Xu, Chair of the Search Team at kexu@aol.com. 

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