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How to guest edit a theme issue

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JMIR Publications journals reach numerous readers globally, who may be interested in information and communication technologies in health, and is therefore the preeminent knowledge translation venue in this area.

We are happy to support, produce and co-edit theme issues (or e-collections) as major knowledge translation activities in important and emerging areas of eHealth, with leaders in the respective fields as guest editors.

We are always looking for guest editors who wish to compile a theme issue on a special or timely topic that fits the scope and focus of any of the JMIR Publications journals. 

Contents

Expectations of a guest editor

The task of the guest editor(s) is generally

  • to solicit manuscripts from colleagues concerning the selected topic,
  • to select peer-reviewers for incoming manuscripts,
  • to make decisions (together with the editorial board) on article revisions and acceptance, and
  • to write an editorial for the theme issue.

Important: Guest editors are required to review and be familiar with COPE guidance on Guest edited collections best practices. JMIR Publications will adhere to COPE guidance in evaluating the quality and fit of proposed theme issues.

APF Considerations

For theme issue proposals, the expected minimum of published manuscript is typically 10. There is no maximum, particularly for very timely and leading-edge topics.

For non-sponsored theme issues, JMIR Publications can offer a 20% discount on the APF for guest-edited theme issues, as long as the minimum number of published manuscripts is met. An alternative option for the guest editors is they may choose instead to have no discount, but they may be given 1 APF waiver per 5 published theme issue articles to solicit high-quality original research from specific experts in the field. 

For sponsored theme issues, guest editors may be involved in securing funding to sponsor the APFs for published papers (usually in the $10-20k range). However, the financial sponsor of the theme issue cannot be involved in the editorial handling of manuscripts for a theme issue that they sponsor; instead, the sponsor typically identifies or helps to identify one or more guest editors for the theme issue to carry out the tasks of the guest editor as listed above.

Submitting a theme issue proposal & guest editor information

After reviewing the information above: 

  • Go to: How do I submit a journal proposal? for more information on considerations when preparing a theme issue proposal, and then submitting the proposal
  • Guest editors should supply a complete editor application: How to apply. Although it is not required to submit this at the same time as the theme issue proposal, having all guest editors for a theme issue submit their profile information as early as possible may help expedite processing of the theme issue proposal

For workshop or conference organizers

This may also be particularly interesting for workshop and conference organizers putting together a grant-funded event (e.g. with invited experts) on an eHealth-related topic. JMIR Publications journals can be an excellent dissemination vehicle of ehealth-related workshop results. (see also I am chairing/organizing/am involved in a conference/workshop. How can I work with JMIR Publications).

For grant-funded projects

Theme issues may also be used as a knowledge dissemination vehicle for results from large collaborative grant-funded projects. Theme issues may contain for example state-of-the-art papers from selected/invited experts, research results from a large grant proposal (e.g. a series of connected studies), or simply articles submitted in response to a specific open call for papers.

Funding through grants or other sources is usually required and should be budgeted for in grant proposals. In the past, funding agencies such as NIH/NCI, CIHR, or private foundations have successfully been approached by the guest editor(s) to secure the funds. 

Grant agencies also expect a portion of the budget devoted to knowledge dissemination and knowledge translation, and JMIR Publications theme issues can be proposed to facilitate dissemination of research results (due to the Open Access policy, results reach a broader audience beyond the research community). We suggest that principal investigators of any larger team grant proposals related to health and information/communication technology to budget for a theme issue (or at least a series of JMIR Publications manuscripts).

Another possible funding venue are workshop funding programs. Again, that granting agencies such as NIH or CIHR usually expect to see some sort of knowledge dissemination activities in workshop proposals, and have in the past funded the JMIR Publications APFs.

Customized letters of support and quotes from JMIR Publications are available on request. JMIR Publications does support any knowledge translation component in grant proposals incorporating some of the ideas listed above (as well as novel ideas e.g. multimedia, podcasting etc., co-branded with JMIR Publications). Please contact ed-support@jmir.org regarding customized inquiries, with a clear subject line and addressed to the JMIR Publications Executive Editor and Scientific Editorial Director.

 

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