An Editor's view

Abstract

What is it like to be Editor of TiBS? I can remember describing it as my ideal job when I first took over from Judith Hall as Editor in 1987. In some respects it was rather scary – plunging from the specialized world of the postdoc to a position where I was expected to know the latest developments in a broad range of topics loosely described as biochemistry and molecular biology. Luckily I could call on the expertise of the TiBS Editorial Board, then ably led by Ralph Bradshaw who had been a board member since the launch in 1976. But I did not expect to receive the support of so many other eminent scientists who would often call the TiBS office with suggestions for topics to cover and be very willing to offer advice to a rookie Editor.I recall receiving a phone call from Max Perutz offering to write an article explaining the significance of a particular primary paper that he felt deserved wider recognition. Even when the author is as well respected as this Nobel Prize winner, there is always the worry that the motive for writing is not entirely altruistic. However, after the article appeared in TiBS I was approached at a conference by a reader who told me that the article had been one of the best she had read and she had recommended it to her students for its clarity and timeliness.Attending conferences was probably the best part of the job. Not only did I get to hear about the latest science breakthroughs, but also I got to meet TiBS readers who were always willing to offer opinions – good and bad – about TiBS. The afterglow of a conference made the inevitable mountain of work waiting for me on my return to the office bearable.Producing a monthly journal is a relentless task and TiBS has always operated with a very small staff. Absences from the office therefore created difficulties. I remember being thankful that videophones were not a reality when discussing an author's final corrections to their contribution to a special issue from my sick bed!TiBS was – and still is – a community journal, fostering a sense of ownership by its readers and contributors. People remember how useful they found TiBS articles when they were students or junior lecturers and want to ensure that the same resource is available for the next generation.The unique appeal of TiBS owes much to its second Editor, Steve Prentis. In partnership with Editor-in-Chief John Tooze, Steve took the already successful TiBS to new heights. Steve seemed a very easy-going guy but managed to persuade the very best authors to write for TiBS at just the right time. His dedication to the job often kept him for hours in the bar at conferences, which was no doubt part of his success. He also injected his own irreverent sense of humour into the journal to create a magazine that was fun to read as well as informative.