Editorial Board Membership as Scholarly Productivity: An Analysis of Selected ICA and NCA Journals 1997–2006

Abstract

This study extends research into information that can be used for the purposes of academic hiring, promotion, and/or tenure. It examines conventions of editorial board membership as a scholarly activity using a sample of three International Communication Association (ICA) and five National Communication Association (NCA) journals from 1997 to 2006. Among these elite editorial boards sponsored by ICA and NCA, the norms of productivity include 5.64 years (visibility) across 1.68 different journals (breadth) for members employed in doctoral programs, 4.2 years (visibility) across 1.38 different journals (breadth) for members employed in master's level programs, and 3.21 years (visibility) across 1.13 different journals (breadth) for members employed in bachelor's level programs. Also, in terms of the number of different people who represent on institution on these boards (diversity), the norms are 7.73 for doctoral programs, 2.63 for master's-level programs, and 1.30 for bachelor's-level programs. The study found that the gender gap in editorial board productivity is decreasing overall, although the trend varies with journal. Results do not support eschewing institutional rankings based on editorial board representation for those based on publication rankings, as suggested by scholars in other disciplines.