Call for Self Nominations - jcmsjournal/editorial GitHub Wiki

Call for Self-Nominations, Editor or Co-Editors, JCMS: Journal of Cinema and Media Studies

The Society for Cinema and Media Studies (SCMS) seeks a new Editor or Co-Editors and a new institutional home, commensurate with the 5-year term of the Editor(s), for its scholarly publication, JCMS.

Application deadline: September 24, 2021.

Background and History.

Published by SCMS since 1959, JCMS is the second oldest scholarly publication devoted to the study of film and media studies in the United States.

Produced by Michigan Publishing, JCMS is a digital-forward journal that offers quarterly print/digital issues as well as online-only, open-access features. Members of SCMS receive access to the journal and its archive as one of the benefits of membership. JCMS publishes critical inquiry into the global, national, and local circulation of a wide variety of media; it is committed to the aesthetic, political, and cultural interpretation of these media and their production, aesthetics, and reception. The journal welcomes submissions on film, television, radio, sound, and digital media. Considered one of the top journals in media studies, the acceptance rate is approximately 17 percent. All research essays published in JCMS are subject to double-blind peer review. For more on JCMS’s editorial policies and procedures, please see overview of the editorial process.

In addition to its quarterly print issues, JCMS also publishes a variety of open-access special features:

  • The Fifth Issue — This online-only, open access rolling issue publishes articles accepted through the journal’s double-blind peer-review process. It is currently curated by the Associate Editors of JCMS.
  • Archival News — This quarterly feature highlights recent developments in the media archive community.
  • Professional Notes — This quarterly compendium lists recent books, articles, podcasts, blogs, and videographic criticism published in cinema and media studies.
  • In Focus — This quarterly, thematic section of short essays is published in each issue of JCMS. It is curated by a guest editor selected by the Editor(s) of JCMS.
  • Book Reviews — Four to six book reviews are featured in each issue of JCMS and are also available open access on its website.
  • Teaching Media — This quarterly feature offers guest-edited essay collections on pedagogical topics in cinema and media studies.
  • Spotlight — Each issue of JCMS includes two short articles that illuminate work being done by SCMS members, Caucuses, and SIGs from historically marginalized groups or areas of research.

When and Why to Edit JCMS

Editing a scholarly journal is an apposite professional opportunity for associate and full professors, both tenure- and teaching-track. Because this position requires a volunteer commitment of 5 to 20 hours per week, it may not be ideal for assistant professors, contingent or under-employed faculty, or those holding full time jobs outside academia. However, the SCMS Board is honored to consider applications from all scholars of film and media and will consider applications from individual candidates or pre-constituted pairs.

Candidates should possess the following skills:

  • Attention to deadlines and timely management of professional email,
  • Strong grasp of English grammar and mechanics, as well as a familiarity with or willingness to learn Chicago Manual of Style formatting,
  • Facility for group leadership and interpersonal politics,
  • Broad interest in the many subfields of film and media studies, and
  • Commitment to professional service and community interests.

Editing JCMS has many benefits. As one of the most renowned peer-reviewed journals in its field, JCMS offers the Editor(s) a distinguished leadership position in the field. They are able to lead change in film and media studies and journal publishing more broadly. As a member of the SCMS Board of Directors, the Editor(s) also becomes part of a collegial cohort that determines policy and other issues for the largest organization in cinema and media studies.

In addition, association with JCMS gives the Editor(s) unparalleled familiarity with major scholarly and disciplinary concerns and in-depth knowledge of the latest cutting-edge research. At the same time, the JCMS editorship enhances the visibility and prestige of their institution in the field. Lastly, the position provides outstanding administrative training.

Position Description

The JCMS Editor(s) is selected by the SCMS Board of Directors. The Editor(s) serves a five-year term, which may be renewed. That five-year term is preceded by a one-year transitional period spent shadowing the outgoing Editor and selecting the new masthead team and Editorial Board.

Every Editor(s) selects their own masthead team and Editorial Board at the start of their term, contingent upon approval by the SCMS Board of Directors. The incoming Editor(s) thus have the authority to shape these groups in accordance with their vision for the journal. Apart from approving the policy and the proposed editorial board and masthead team, the Board has no jurisdiction over the editorial content or practices of JCMS.

Together with their Managing Editor, the Editor(s) of JCMS is responsible for overseeing submission processing and desk review, procuring peer reviewers, corresponding with authors and the press, and offering developmental edits on research articles before submission to Michigan Publishing. They work with their Associate Editors to ensure that JCMS’s various sections are submitted in a timely and professional manner. They also identify and approve guest editors for the In Focus dossiers. They also work with the Co-Editors of Outreach and Equity—in addition to the other members of the masthead team—to address historical biases and inequities in film and media studies as well as journal publishing. Additionally, the Editor(s) has an ex officio seat on the SCMS Board of Directors. They attend all Board meetings and report to the Board on issues concerning JCMS.

Currently, the masthead team comprises Associate Editors, Managing Editor, Production Editor, Book Review Editor, Co-Editor(s) of Outreach and Equity, Special Features Editor, Assistant Editors, and section editors for Professional News, Archival Notes, and Teaching Media. The editors are supported by the Editorial Board and may also procure assistance from undergraduate or graduate interns.

Role of the Host Institution

SCMS requires that the Editor’s (or Editors’) home institution(s) support their work on the journal by supplying the Editor(s) with suitable office space, a computer, postage, office supplies, photocopying, and printing (as needed). The host institution(s) must also support the remuneration of a half-time Managing Editor, who may be a graduate student, part-time staff person, or independent contractor. The host institution(s) should also provide the Editor(s) with at least one course release per year to facilitate their work on the journal and support their travel expenses to attend the SCMS Board’s two annual meetings and the Society’s annual conference.

SCMS recognizes that not all institutions are able to support potential Editor(s) to the same degree. The Society pledges to work with the elected Editor(s) and their home institution(s) to create and contribute to a reasonable support plan. Once such a plan is agreed upon, SCMS will require an official letter of support from the host institution for the incoming Editor(s).

Application and Timeline

Please submit the following documents to the SCMS Board of Directors ([email protected]) by September 24, 2021:

  • Current curriculum vitae for the Editor(s), highlighting past editorial and mentorship experience
  • A two-page Statement of Qualifications, detailing (in order of priority):
    1. Prior editing experience,
    2. Prior mentorship initiatives,
    3. Research and writing skills, and
    4. Past SCMS/professional service
    5. If submitting as a pre-constituted editorial pair, this Statement should address your combined strengths and plan for how you’ll share the position.
  • A two-page Statement of Vision answering the question: What should JCMS’s goals be over the next five years?
  • A published writing sample (such as a journal article or book chapter), and
  • Three professional references, including contact information.

The SCMS Board of Directors will make its selection of a new Editor(s) by early November 2021. The new Editor will begin their transition role on January 1, 2022, and will assume the Editorship and begin editing their first issue in November 2022. The eleven months between selection and appointment allows for a smooth transition between the current and new Editor(s), although the current Editor can serve on the masthead team in an advisory capacity at the discretion of the new Editor(s). The transition period further ensures that masthead team members are fully conversant with their responsibilities and with the workflows of the journal before the current team cycles off.

Please direct any questions to: