Editors as Gatekeepers

Book excerpt: Why do some scholarly manuscripts get published while others do not? Who makes the decisions at scholarly journals and presses, and how do they reach those decisions? This volume brings together the experiences of editors of sociology, anthropology, political science, criminal justice, psychology, and other social science journals, and editors and directors of university and commercial presses that focus on the social sciences. Each chapter of this book provides insight into the editor's definition of his/her role, and a look at the relationships among editors, authors, reviewers and readers. The authors offer advice about where to submit, and how to read editors' letters about revising and resubmitting manuscripts. They explore the pleasures and pains, disappointments and successes experienced in their role as 'gatekeeper.'