Reflections from the JBGS annual editorial meeting: Recap of 2024 and way forward
On Thursday, 20 February 2025, our editorial team met to discuss the journal’s development and exchange useful information. 23 participants altogether—19 members of the JBGS Editorial Board, Subject Editors, Copy and Layout Editors, as well as four representatives of our technology provider, Pensoft Publishers, discussed the journal’s performance for the past year (2024) and ways for improvement. The meeting started with an overview presentation of the journal development in 2024, the most important achievements, and several points for discussion, including upcoming activities and preparations for the Web of Science evaluation.
The Editor-in-Chief—Prof. John Pickles, welcomed the participants and highlighted that we begin to see the flourishing and success of the journal thanks to everyone involved in different capacities. He thanked Prof. Chad Staddon for stepping up to be Deputy Editor-in-Chief, and to all the new subject editors for stepping in—Dr. Ina Sieber, Prof. Ivica Milevski, Prof. Innocent Sinthumule, Prof. Adrian Smith, Dr. Gabriela Morosanu, and the new copy editor—Dr. Kalina Tylko:
“It gives us a broader base, and we hope that we also increase the range of subject areas and submissions for the journal.”
The Deputy Editor-in-Chief—Prof. Chad Staddon, made an intervention to share a couple of quick observations. First, to underscore how important the work of the journal is in its relaunched form, particularly in the context of a publishing world that is increasingly dominated by predatory publishers.
“We are academics first, we are society-led journal driven by passion for the subject, which is very much not what the predators are about. So that’s first really important thing, about the way the journal has been repositioning in its development, and it’s one of the reasons for me to be excited to be more involved in the journal going forward.”
The meeting continued with an intensive discussion on different aspects, such as opening a topical collection on methods and geoinformation technologies proposed by Chad Staddon, the reviewer recognition raised by Isa Elegbede, and the role of special issues and conferences to increase the journal’s visibility, raised by Innocent Sinthumule.
Prof. Adrian Smith shared his thoughts and experience on journal development (on the case of the European Urban and Regional Studies, where he serves as a Co-Editor-in-Chief), and he thanked for being invited as a JBGS Subject Editor:
“Thank you so much for including me in this meeting and for the invitation to join your group. It’s a privilege to be involved, it sounds like a really exciting, developing, and vibrant publishing project.”
Prof. Ivica Milevski said that he is very glad to see such a great advance of the journal. He made several comments on the review process, in particular on the recognition and the fact that some institutions do not acknowledge these activities of their research staff. He also raised the issue of the misuse of AI and the growing problems it causes to editors.
Dr. Gabriela Morosanu shared that she is truly thankful to be serving at the editorial team.
“The structure of this journal is really a source of inspirational for us. I’m also motivated as young researcher to assist you in any matter that you might consider important and useful.”
Iva Boyadzhieva from Pensoft Publishers noted that the growing number of submissions speaks a lot for the journal development.
“We are really happy and excited to see how the JBGS is growing, because normally it’s a big struggle for journals especially at this stage of development. Wonderful work to all of you.”
The meeting ended with a live demonstration of some of the technological features of the ARPHA platform, made by the Managing Editor, Hristina Prodanova. She encouraged her colleagues to use them either when doing the screening of the manuscripts or when considering different reviewers.
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