Proposing an In Focus dossier FAQ - jcmsjournal/editorial GitHub Wiki

Frequently Asked Questions: Proposing an In Focus dossier for JCMS

Please consult the following information if you are interested in proposing a JCMS In Focus (IF) dossier. General information about IF dossiers is also available on the “Submit” page of the JCMS website. We encourage prospective editors to explore the list of recent IF dossiers, which are available open access.

If you have additional questions about proposing an IF dossier after reviewing this document, please feel free to contact IF Editor Cait McKinney.

Q: What is a JCMS In Focus (IF) dossier?

A: In Focus dossiers are collections of short essays on specific, timely topics relevant to film and media studies, broadly defined. The dossiers are edited by a guest editor or editors who propose their own original topics, in the manner of a special issue. IF dossiers should make a clear intervention in the field and/or offer an important new area of consideration for media studies scholars. IF essays and dossiers may be more polemical or exploratory than traditional academic articles. However, they should still meet the same standards of writing and argumentation as other material published in JCMS.

IF essays are not peer reviewed but they do undergo lengthy and detailed editorial review by both the IF editor(s) and the JCMS editorial team. Under the guidance of the JCMS editorial team, IF guest editors work closely with the authors contributing to their dossier throughout the editorial process. Some of these stages include proposing the dossier, drafting essays, and revising essays, and shepherding essays through production (copy editing and proofreading).

The elements of an IF dossier include:

  • An introduction (1,500-2,000 words) written by the IF editor(s)
  • Approximately six short articles (2,000-2,500 words each) written by authors selected by the IF editor(s). Dossiers should include no fewer than five and no more than seven essays. Note that, while some IF editors do contribute their own individual articles to the dossier, it is equally common for editors to author only the dossier’ introduction, leaving space for other authors.
  • Up to but not more than 6 images for the full dossier, preferable distributed as one image per essay.

One IF dossier is published as part of each print issue of the journal. The journal publishes four print issues per year. Therefore, JCMS runs four IF dossiers annually.

To help ensure their accessibility and impact, In Focus dossiers are published as part of JCMS's quarterly print issues and made available open access online. A list of recent IF dossiers can be found on the JCMS website. While authors from a variety of disciplines and backgrounds are encouraged to contribute to IF dossiers, IF essays must follow the JCMS Style Guide and use Chicago style citations.

Q: Who can propose an IF dossier?

A: Anyone who understands themselves to be engaged with humanistic media studies scholarship, broadly defined, can propose an IF dossier. IF editors do not need to be SCMS members. We encourage JCMS readers to consider joining SCMS if it is financially feasible for them, but an individual’s SCMS membership status is not considered as a factor in accepting IF proposals or content for any part of the journal.

IF dossiers can be proposed and editied by a single editor or pair of editors. We are happy to consider inquiries from larger IF editorial groups but it is our experience that IF dossier editing works best when handled by either a single editor or two editors. Scholars at all stages of their career, in all professional positions, and at all types of institutions are welcome to propose an IF dossier.

With that said, it has been the experience of the journal that a graduate student interested in editing an IF dossier often benefits from working with a co-editor who has completed their PhD or holds a different scholarly position. This is because some graduate students understandably feel that certain IF editor responsibilities–such as enforcing author deadlines and/or requesting revisions from authors–can be challenging when working with contributions from more senior scholars. However, it is not a requirement that graduate students propose to work with a non-graduate-student co-editor.

Q: How do I/we begin the process of proposing an IF dossier?

A: If you are interested in editing an IF dossier, the first step is to send a brief query to the JCMS IF Editor Cait McKinney. In your email, you should introduce yourself and briefly describe your envisioned topic. While you do not need to write this query in a formal, structured way, a good rule of thumb is to include a topic description of roughly 200 words. It is most common for prospective IF editors to include the contents of their query in the body of their email but you are also welcome to send your query text in the form of a Word document or PDF.

This description should touch on the elements outlined below in the section labeled "What does JCMS look for in a successful IF query?" It is okay if your query does not address every point; queries are simply a starting point and a chance for us to help guide you as you develop your IF topic idea.

Before inquiring, we encourage you to review past IF dossiers to familiarize yourself with the format and to avoid proposing a dossier topic that closely overlaps with a recently published In Focus.

IF queries are reviewed by members of the JCMS editorial team who determine whether the envisioned topic is an appropriate fit for the mission and current needs of the journal. In response to your query, you will receive an email communicating one of three possible outcomes:

  1. You are being invited to submit a full proposal for your envisioned IF dossier (more info below).
  2. We are interested in your IF dossier topic but would like to ask for more information before inviting you to proceed to the proposal stage.
  3. We are politely declining to pursue your envisioned IF dossier.

Note that emails sent notifying prospective editors of the journal’s official response to their queries are sent by the IF Editor. Other members of the JCMS masthead or editorial board, listed here, may encourage you to send a query for an IF dossier. However, only responses from a Co-Editor or Associate Editor should be considered official requests for formal IF proposals. If you are unsure if you have received an official request for a proposal, please feel free to contact Managing Editor Raphael Rosalen ([email protected]), who can help clarify.

Q: What does JCMS look for in a successful IF query?

A: When considering whether to invite prospective IF editors to submit a full proposal, the JCMS editorial team considers the following factors. Note that prospective editors do not need to have identified a list of specific contributors to the dossier when they email their query; however, it is helpful for prospective editors to have given thought to what sorts of authors they hope to include in the dossier.

  • Is the topic of the query relevant to the humanistic media studies community, broadly defined?
  • Is the topic articulated in a way that is accessible to a wide media studies audience?
  • Is the topic timely? Do the prospective editors articulate why this In Focus is important now? ( Is the specific argument and/or intervention of the proposed IF clear? Have the prospective editors articulated what new perspectives the dossier will offer and why they are important?
  • Does the topic add meaningful new insights, voices, or provocations to the existing contents of JCMS or humanistic media studies?
  • Understanding that the prospective editors will likely not yet have a list of specific contributors to the IF, does it appear that contributors will represent a diversity of professional positions, geographies, and identities? If the prospective IF includes only a specific group of contributors (such as those who share an identity position or who work together on an initiative), does the query explain the value of focusing on these voices?
  • Is the topic sufficiently different from other IF dossiers published within the last five years? (See the list of recent IF dossiers here.) Does the topic align with JCMS' current publication plans and goals?
  • Is the scope of the topic appropriate for the IF dossier format? That is, does it take on a topic large enough to be meaningful to a range of media studies scholars while also remaining specific enough to be concretely addressed within one dossier.
  • Does the query reflect a sufficient familiarity with the IF format? For example, do the prospective editors describe a plan for inviting a certain number of authors or types of articles that are in line with the standards of JCMS IF dossiers?
  • Have the prospective editors edited a previous IF dossier? Individuals who have edited past IF dossiers are welcome to send queries for new dossiers. However, please be aware that priority may be given to prospective editors who have not yet had the opportunity to edit an IF dossier.

Q: What happens after I/we are invited to submit a formal IF proposal?

A: Following the query stage, the second step is to submit a formal proposal. Formal proposals should only be submitted if you have received an email in response to your query inviting you to submit a formal proposal. Proposals for IF dossiers should be sent via email to IF Editor Cait McKinney as a Word doc or PDF attachment.

Note that, while prospective editors do not need to know the specific contributors to their envisioned IF at the time of their initial query, they do need to have a full list of confirmed interested contributors and abstracts for their proposed essay when the editors submit their proposal. More information about the process of selecting IF authors can be found below.

The proposal document should include:

  • An overview (roughly 750 words) of the proposed IF topic, including a description of the topic, its timeliness, its intervention, and its interest to a humanistic media studies readership. The overview should also clearly explain how all essays in the proposed dossier will contribute directly to the overall argument or intervention of the dossier.
  • Abstracts for the approximately six essays (minimum five, maximum seven) that will make up the body of the IF dossier. Abstracts should be between 100 and 200 words each. They should be written by the proposed essay authors, not the proposed IF editors. Abstracts should clearly articulate the specific argument and/or unique contribution of the essay. Keep in mind that IF essay should be 2,000 to 2,500 words long each. Proposed essays should be appropriate in scope for this short format. All essays should be on-topic for the IF topic and clearly contribute to the overall argument or intervention of the dossier.
  • Brief biographies (50 to 100 words) for each individual proposed editor and contributor.

We ask that prospective IF editors please submit their proposals within three months (and no more than six months) of receiving an official request for a proposal in reply to their initial query. After six months, the JCMS editors may need to reassess the timeliness of the topic or its potential overlaps with other scheduled journal content. Prospective editors are encouraged to submit their proposals as soon as they are ready to share them with the JCMS editors. The earlier a proposal is submitted and potentially accepted, the sooner the IF can be slotted into an available print issue. For reference, from the time an IF proposal is accepted to the time its issue is published is roughly 18 to 24 months, barring any significant delays from the IF editors or their contributors.

The JCMS editorial team will review proposals using the criteria outlined below in the section labeled “What does JCMS look for in a successful IF proposal?” Following this review, a JCMS Editor or Associate Editor will reply to the prospective IF editor(s) notifying them of one of the following outcomes:

  1. Your proposal has been accepted and you can officially begin the process of editing an IF.
  2. We see positive potential in your proposal but would like to request revisions or additional information before deciding whether to accept your proposal.
  3. We are politely declining to pursue the IF dossier described in your proposal.

If your proposal is accepted, you will receive a followup email from Managing Editor Raphael Rosalen ([email protected]) who will provide you with information about the steps in the editorial process and establish a timeline of due dates leading up to publication. Following the acceptance of your proposal, you are welcome to post publicly about your upcoming IF and/or add the IF as an in-progress publication on your CV.

Q: What does JCMS look for in a successful IF proposal?

A: When considering whether to accept a proposal and officially invite prospective editors to begin work on an IF dossier, the JCMS editorial team considers the following factors:

  • Does the proposal include all of the elements listed above, including abstracts and bios for each of the contributions?
  • Following its development from query to proposal, does the topic of the proposed IF remain timely, important, and relevant to the humanistic media studies? Is the specific argument or intervention of the dossier still clear? Does this topic still fit within the scope of an IF dossier?
  • Does the proposal reflect an engagement with relevant existing media studies scholarship? Do the editors demonstrate a nuanced understanding of how the proposed IF fits within the current media studies landscape?
  • Now that the list of proposed contributors has been finalized, do the contributors represent a diversity of professional positions, geographies, and identities? If the proposed IF includes only a specific group of contributors, does the proposal explain the value of focusing on these voices?
  • Does each individual abstract clearly articulate both the topic and the argument of the proposed piece?
  • Do all abstracts relate directly to the overall topic of the proposal? Is it clear how the proposed pieces will work together to address this topic?
  • Are abstracts written from the perspective of humanistic media studies? Alternatively, IF dossier essays can be interdisciplinary, practice-based, or personal in nature. If an abstract does speak from a humanistic media studies perspective, is it clear how the piece will interest media studies scholars?

Q: How are authors for IF dossiers selected?

A: IF editors are responsible for identifying, soliciting, and selecting authors to contribute the essays that make up the body of the dossier. JCMS encourages IF editors to include contributors who represent a wide range of perspectives and positions, including identity positions and positions with academia.

We recommend that prospective IF editors complete the initial query stage described above before contacting potential contributors for the envisioned IF. In their initial query, prospective IF editors are welcome to include names that exemplify the types of authors who might contribute to their envisioned dossier; however, it is not necessary to include a full or specific list of authors at the query stage.

By contrast, IF dossier proposals do require a full list of planned contributors and abstracts for their essays. If prospective editors are invited to submit a formal proposal, they should identify authors, confirm their interest in contributing, and work with them as they prepare abstracts. Each essay should relate directly to the overall topic of the IF. Each abstract should clearly articulate its own specific argument or intervention.

Unlike in a traditional, full-scale special issue, the journal itself does not put out a Call for Papers for the essays included in an IF dossier. The decision of which authors and essays to include in an IF dossier falls to the IF editor(s). When preparing proposals, prospective IF editors can choose whether to invite specific authors to contribute abstracts or to issue and distribute their own Call for Papers (CFP).

Prospective IF editors who choose to issue a CFP are responsible for drafting and circulating this CFP, collecting submissions, conducting their own process for selecting submissions, and communicating with authors. We recommend that prospective editors only collect abstracts at this stage, rather than full paper drafts. When writing a CFP and/or contacting potential authors, please state clearly that the envisioned IF is still in the proposal stage and has not yet been accepted for publication in JCMS.

Q: How do I decide if editing an IF dossier is a good fit for me?

A: The amount of work required to edit an IF dossier is similar to the amount of work required to edit a journal special issue or a (short) edited volume. Though they will receive support from the JCMS editorial team, IF editors take on primary responsibility for coordinating and communicating with IF authors; this includes upholding deadlines and taking the lead on draft revisions. We encourage prospective editors who have not previously undertaken this genre of editing to consult with colleagues and mentors who have editing experience. Topics to discuss might include expected workload, potential challenges, and other professional considerations, such as how much editing “counts” for personnel review.

As stated above, IF dossiers are usually published within 18 to 24 months of the acceptance of a proposal. This timeline can be extended by delays from the IF editor(s) or their contributors. It may be helpful to take this into consideration when deciding whether editing an IF fits within your upcoming career plans, such as the timing of entering the job market, shifting positions, or undergoing review for tenure. Following the acceptance of an IF proposal, the JCMS editorial team is happy to write a formal letter for the editor(s) attesting to the fact that their proposal is in-progress and scheduled for publication. This can be valuable for a job application or review file.