Society Publications Research Articles

Challenges and opportunities for open access book publishing: A perspective from a society publisher in the geosciences

AbstractThe American Geophysical Union (AGU), a scholarly society serving the Earth and space sciences, has a conventional books portfolio with their publisher, Wiley, and a new partnership with the Geological Society of London for an open access (OA) book series. The latter serves authors who need (because of funding mandates) or want to publish OA and comes with added benefits, including a production workflow to facilitate faster times to online publication. Flexibility in how the costs of individual volumes can be covered aims to encourage uptake, but challenges lie ahead in ensuring that all authors can equitably choose OA for their book project. This commentary contributes to the collection in Area about the evolving OA books landscape, addressing many of the challenges described by Gandy, and describing the start of AGU's journey towards OA books. It brings a perspective from the sciences, where books are mostly large, edited volumes with many international contributors, many of them physical geographers. Their experiences of funding, motivation and recognition for contributing to books may be quite different to human geographers more familiar with the sole‐authored monograph format.

You don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone: the changing landscape of UK learned society publishing

This study draws on a longitudinal dataset of 277 UK learned societies covering the period 2015–2023 to provide evidence-based insights into the changing landscape of society publishing. It identifies a rapid decline in the number of self-published societies and an increasingly complex outsourcing landscape. New publishing partnerships are emerging with university presses and other not-for-profit entities rather than commercial publishers, while all but the largest UK societies have seen their publishing revenues decline in real terms since 2015. In general, UK learned society publishers are seeing their influence wane as market conditions favour publishing models focussed on quantity rather than quality. The decline of independent society publishers represents an unintended consequence of the transition to open access, but the trend towards increased outsourcing may be based on flawed assumptions. Analysis of financial data for a subset of 21 societies indicates that self-published societies have achieved sustained growth in their revenues from publishing while societies with publishing partners have seen a significant decline. For those societies with the means and the will to publish journals in their own right, this study bolsters the case for retaining, or even reclaiming, their independence.

European Respiratory Society statement on preschool wheezing disorders: updated definitions, knowledge gaps and proposed future research directions.

Since the publication of the European Respiratory Society (ERS) task force reports on the management of preschool wheezing in 2008 and 2014, a large body of evidence has accumulated suggesting that the clinical phenotypes that were proposed (episodic (viral) wheezing and multiple-trigger wheezing) do not relate to underlying airway pathology and may not help determine response to treatment. Specifically, using clinical phenotypes alone may no longer be appropriate, and new approaches that can be used to inform clinical care are needed for future research. This ERS task force reviewed the literature published after 2008 related to preschool wheezing and has suggested that the criteria used to define wheezing disorders in preschool children should include age of diagnosis (0 to <6 years), confirmation of wheezing on at least one occasion, and more than one episode of wheezing ever. Furthermore, diagnosis and management may be improved by identifying treatable traits, including inflammatory biomarkers (blood eosinophils, aeroallergen sensitisation) associated with type-2 immunity and differential response to inhaled corticosteroids, lung function parameters and airway infection. However, more comprehensive use of biomarkers/treatable traits in predicting the response to treatment requires prospective validation. There is evidence that specific genetic traits may help guide management, but these must be adequately tested. In addition, the task force identified an absence of caregiver-reported outcomes, caregiver/self-management options and features that should prompt specialist referral for this age group. Priorities for future research include a focus on identifying 1) mechanisms driving preschool wheezing; 2) biomarkers of treatable traits and efficacy of interventions in those without allergic sensitisation/eosinophilia; 3) the need to include both objective outcomes and caregiver-reported outcomes in clinical trials; 4) the need for a suitable action plan for children with preschool wheezing; and 5) a definition of severe/difficult-to-treat preschool wheezing.

Narrative drives design decision-making

AbstractScholars in economics, psychology, and business have recently defined narrative as the underlying mechanism by which humans internally process information and drive a decision forward. In this paper, we study narrative's use in design across Design Society publications. We discuss how narrative's role as the driver of design decision-making is an important, but missing, element of the design literature. We explain how engineers will be expected to move the design process forward despite facing decisions where the information is simultaneously too much to process, conflicting, and incomplete.

Real-world clinical decisions of physicians in the management of Takayasu arteritis and giant cell arteritis in Japan: A cross-sectional web questionnaire survey.

The aim is to access the real-world clinical management of physicians who treat Takayasu arteritis (TAK) and giant cell arteritis (GCA) after the publication of the Japanese Circulation Society (JCS) 2017 Guidelines for the Management of Vasculitis Syndrome. This descriptive, cross-sectional study utilized self-administered electronic questionnaires, which were answered in February 2022 by physicians treating TAK or GCA and registered with Macromill Inc. The 329 survey respondents were enrolled. The 2017 JCS Guidelines were the most commonly referenced information source for resolving clinical questions, accessed by 70% of respondents. Ophthalmoscopy was performed in only 50% of patients with TAK and in 70% for GCA. The median percentages of patients who underwent 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography for TAK and GCA patients were 23% and 20% at diagnosis, respectively, and 10% each at follow-up within 12 months. Tocilizumab was the most frequently used medication in combination with glucocorticoids for both TAK and GCA, especially in remission induction therapy for relapsed patients. The majority of physicians treating TAK and GCA referred to the 2017 JCS guidelines. This report clarified the current clinical practice for large vessel vasculitis in Japan, providing information for the next revision of the guidelines.

THREE SYSTEMIC APPROACHES TO HUMAN BEHAVIOR, BEHAVIORAL HISTORY AND POPULATION BEHAVIOR: WHAT ROLE FOR SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC PARTICIPATION?

Purpose: The research considers the systemic approaches to human behavior, social environment and behavioral history engaging the theoretical representations and conceptualizations of the relevant constructs in the field. Methods and methodology: The research overviews the conceptual clarity using terms and association of terms and following a five-steps research technique: (1) determination of conceptual cluters using JavaScript based programming Mermaid Live Editor; (2) generating three themes of analysis using the tools and services provided by four databases, namely: Wiley Online Library, Sage Journals, JSTOR and the Royal Society Publishing (information retrieved during the period from January 10, 2024 to February 10, 2024); (3) identifying the associated domains and applications of the conceptual clusters by reviewing the relevant scientific literature; (4) examining the concepts and evolutionary advances; (5) framing the patterns of the terminological analysis. Results and findings: The findings of the research patterns the analysis units referring to the relationships between various constructs and discussing the variations and role of concepts. Conclusions: In conclusion, the paper releases significant research outcomes concerning linkage between human behavior, social environment and behavioral history and the occurrence and viewpoints about the three themes of analysis by focusing on the role of social environment and public participation.

Scaling up open access publishing through transformative agreements: Results from 2019 to 2022

Key Points The Biochemical Society's transformative Read &amp; Publish (R&amp;P) agreements follow an all‐inclusive and unlimited model (developed in collaboration with other society publishers) that cover all titles, both hybrid and fully open access (OA), and does not place caps on article numbers. This case study shows that these R&amp;P agreements have significantly boosted OA uptake in the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand. It also shows that the agreements are most effective in regions where there is adequate funding, high research output and a willingness from institutions to engage collectively (through consortium agreements). Where these conditions do not exist alternative models will be needed to complement R&amp;P—in our case we plan to implement Subscribe to Open from 2025 onwards.

Advances in Multi-Modality Imaging in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is characterized by abnormal growth of the myocardium with myofilament disarray and myocardial hyper-contractility, leading to left ventricular hypertrophy and fibrosis. Where culprit genes are identified, they typically relate to cardiomyocyte sarcomere structure and function. Multi-modality imaging plays a crucial role in the diagnosis, monitoring, and risk stratification of HCM, as well as in screening those at risk. Following the recent publication of the first European Society of Cardiology (ESC) cardiomyopathy guidelines, we build on previous reviews and explore the roles of electrocardiography, echocardiography, cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR), cardiac computed tomography (CT), and nuclear imaging. We examine each modality’s strengths along with their limitations in turn, and discuss how they can be used in isolation, or in combination, to facilitate a personalized approach to patient care, as well as providing key information and robust safety and efficacy evidence within new areas of research.

Chest Wall Injury Society recommendation for surgical stabilization of nonunited rib fractures to decrease pain, reduce opiate use, and improve patient reported outcomes in patients with rib fracture nonunion after trauma.

Rib fractures are common injuries which can be associated with acute pain and chronic disability. While most rib fractures ultimately go on to achieve bony union, a subset of patients may go on to develop non-union. Management of these nonunited rib fractures can be challenging and variability in management exists. The Chest Wall Injury Society's Publication Committee convened to develop recommendations for use of surgical stabilization of nonunited rib fractures (SSNURF) to treat traumatic rib fracture nonunions. PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane database were searched for pertinent studies. Using a process of iterative consensus, all committee members voted to accept or reject the recommendation. No identified studies compared SSNURF to alternative therapy and the overall quality of the body of evidence was rated as low. Risk of bias was identified in all studies. Despite these limitations, there is lower-quality evidence suggesting that SSNURF may be beneficial for decreasing pain, reducing opiate use, and improving patient reported outcomes among patients with symptomatic rib nonunion. However, these benefits should be balanced against risk of symptomatic hardware failure and infection. This guideline document summarizes the current CWIS recommendations regarding use of SSNURF for management of rib nonunion. Therapeutic/Care Management; Level IV.

First and Second-Trimester Surgical Abortion Providers and Services in 2019: Results From the Canadian Abortion Provider Survey

ObjectiveOur objective was to explore the workforce and clinical care of first and second-trimester surgical abortion (FTSA, STSA) providers following the publication of the updated Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC) surgical abortion guidelines. MethodsWe conducted a national, cross-sectional, online, self-administered survey of physicians who provided abortion care in 2019. This anonymized survey collected participant demographics, types of abortion services, and characteristics of FTSA and STSA clinical care. Through healthcare organizations using a modified Dillman technique, we recruited from July to December 2020. Descriptive statistics were generated by R Statistical Software. ResultsWe present the data of 222 surgical abortion provider respondents, of whom 219 provided FTSA, 109 STSA, and 106 both. Respondents practiced in every Canadian province and territory. Most were obstetrician-gynaecologists (56.8%) and family physicians (36.0%). The majority of FTSA and STSA respondents were located in urban settings, 64.8% and 79.8%, respectively, and more than 80% practiced in hospitals. More than 1 in 4 respondents reported <5 years’ experience with surgical abortion care and 93.2% followed SOGC guidelines. Noted guideline deviations included that prophylactic antibiotic use was not universal, and more than half of respondents used sharp curettage in addition to suction. Fewer than 5% of STSA respondents used mifepristone for cervical preparation. ConclusionThe surgical abortion workforce is multidisciplinary and rejuvenating. Education, training, and practice support, including SOGC guideline implementation, are required to optimize care and to ensure equitable FTSA and STSA access in both rural and urban regions. Gestational Age Notationweeks, weeks’ gestation, gestational age (GA), e.g., 116 weeks.

The calm before the storm? The making of a lithium frontier in transitioning Portugal

A nation undergoing accelerating energy transitions with ambitious climate targets discovers lithium. In recent years, Portugal has made headlines inter alia for running on renewable electricity for over a month, setting world records at solar auctions, closing its last two coal-fired power plants, and investing majorly in green hydrogen for regional public transport fleets. Lithium extraction for battery manufacture can give it leverage in a sector where it has lagged: manufacturing for energy transitions. Bureaucratic machinery has begun whirring in this direction. Yet, extraction carries risks of environmental destruction, community displacement, and populist backlash. Hence, mapping extraction sites has evoked public opposition and triggered debate. Drawing on civil society publications, policy papers and reports, media coverage, field observations, and interviews with social movement representatives, we interrogate the emergence of a lithium frontier in this greening country. We analyse the human geography and social anthropology of mapped extraction sites, to discuss what social movements have emerged and how they are reflected in official political frames. We do not take a position based on technical assessment, but rather analyse available facts as energy social scientists familiar with the sociotechnical geographies of the Portuguese energy system. We conceptually engage literature on the making of resource frontiers and moments of transition, to foreground the sort of meaning being made and performed in this rapidly unfolding national low-carbon energy future. While unpacking exploration and licensing processes reveals tensions with social justice issues, how hybrid governance navigates these issues will define emergent extractive proclivities.

Assessing the Effectiveness of SciScore in Supporting the Reproducibility of Scientific Research

It is critical for researchers and grantees alike to adhere to rigor and transparency criteria to ensure their contributions to scientific research are sufficiently transparent so they can be replicated and eventually reproduced. SciScore evaluates scientific manuscripts for compliance with consensus granting agency and journal recommendations designed to address different aspects of rigor and transparency in the published literature (e.g., MDAR [Materials Design Analysis Reporting], ARRIVE [Animal Research: Reporting In Vivo Experiments], CONSORT [Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials], RRID [Research Resource Identification] standards). SciScore has been implemented by several society publishers in different ways, with one allowing authors to run the tool as often as they wish, and another having editors verify manuscripts using the report provided by the tool. Results show that the use of the tool led to an increase in the average SciScore over time or via the revision process. The use of the tool also resulted in an increase in the number of manuscripts with RRIDs, a fairly easy transparency criterion to check. We conclude that the use of the tool is effective in improving some aspects of rigor of research articles. Introduction Rigor and transparency criteria for the biological sciences are now well-defined by funders,1 publishers,2 and meta-researchers.3 All essentially agree on several key aspects of the study that are consistent with higher levels of replicability of a study. These recommendations have been common practice in clinical studies for decades but have been infrequently used in the preclinical literature.3 These key aspects of the […]

Independent society publishers and the path to open scholarship

Independent society publishers and the path to open scholarship

Chest Wall Injury Society Recommendations for Management of Surgical Site or Implant-Related Infections After Surgical Stabilization of Traumatic Rib or Sternal Fractures.

Background: Surgical stabilization of rib fractures (SSRF) and surgical stabilization of sternal fractures (SSSF) involves open reduction and internal fixation of fractures with an implantable titanium plate to restore and maintain anatomic alignment. The presence of this foreign, non-absorbable material presents an opportunity for infection. Although surgical site infection (SSI) and implant infection rates after SSRF and SSSF are low, they present a challenging clinical entity. Methods: The Surgical Infection Society's Therapeutics and Guidelines Committee and Chest Wall Injury Society's Publication Committee convened to develop recommendations for management of SSIs or implant-related infections after SSRF or SSSF. PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and the Cochrane database were searched for pertinent studies. Using a process of iterative consensus, all committee members voted to accept or reject each recommendation. Results: For patients undergoing SSRF or SSSF who develop an SSI or an implant-related infection, there is insufficient evidence to suggest a single optimal management strategy. For patients with an SSI, systemic antibiotic therapy, local wound debridement, and vacuum-assisted closure have been used in isolation or combination. For patients with an implant-related infection, initial implant removal with or without systemic antibiotic therapy, systemic antibiotic therapy with local wound drainage, and systemic antibiotic therapy with local antibiotic therapy have been documented. For patients who do not undergo initial implant removal, 68% ultimately require implant removal to achieve source control. Conclusions: Insufficient evidence precludes the ability to recommend guidelines for the treatment of SSI or implant-related infection following SSRF or SSSF. Further studies should be performed to identify the optimal management strategy in this population.

Immediate Open Access: The Good, the Bad, and the Impact on Academic Society Publishing.

Arthritis Care & ResearchEarly View Notes from the Field Immediate Open Access: The Good, the Bad, and the Impact on Academic Society Publishing Amr H. Sawalha, Corresponding Author Amr H. Sawalha [email protected] orcid.org/0000-0002-3884-962X University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Address correspondence via email to Amr H. Sawalha, MD, at [email protected].Search for more papers by this authorDaniel H. Solomon, Daniel H. Solomon orcid.org/0000-0001-8202-5428 Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MassachusettsSearch for more papers by this authorKelli D. Allen, Kelli D. Allen orcid.org/0000-0002-3886-0677 University of North Carolina & Durham VA Healthcare System, Durham, North CarolinaSearch for more papers by this authorPatricia Katz, Patricia Katz orcid.org/0000-0002-8146-2519 University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CaliforniaSearch for more papers by this authorEd Yelin, Ed Yelin orcid.org/0000-0002-9229-9980 University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CaliforniaSearch for more papers by this author Amr H. Sawalha, Corresponding Author Amr H. Sawalha [email protected] orcid.org/0000-0002-3884-962X University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Address correspondence via email to Amr H. Sawalha, MD, at [email protected].Search for more papers by this authorDaniel H. Solomon, Daniel H. Solomon orcid.org/0000-0001-8202-5428 Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MassachusettsSearch for more papers by this authorKelli D. Allen, Kelli D. Allen orcid.org/0000-0002-3886-0677 University of North Carolina & Durham VA Healthcare System, Durham, North CarolinaSearch for more papers by this authorPatricia Katz, Patricia Katz orcid.org/0000-0002-8146-2519 University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CaliforniaSearch for more papers by this authorEd Yelin, Ed Yelin orcid.org/0000-0002-9229-9980 University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CaliforniaSearch for more papers by this author First published: 11 May 2023 https://doi.org/10.1002/acr.25131 This article is simultaneously published in Arthritis & Rheumatology and ACR Open Rheumatology. 1Amr H. Sawalha, MD: University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; 2Daniel H. Solomon, MD, MPH: Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; 3Kelli D. Allen, PhD: University of North Carolina & Durham VA Healthcare System, Durham, North Carolina; 4Patricia Katz, PhD, Ed Yelin, PhD: University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California. Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL No abstract is available for this article. Early ViewOnline Version of Record before inclusion in an issue RelatedInformation

Taking responsibility for mental health in the workplace

In PracticeVolume 45, Issue 4 p. 245-246 Opinion Taking responsibility for mental health in the workplace Glen Cousquer, Glen CousquerSearch for more papers by this author Glen Cousquer, Glen CousquerSearch for more papers by this author First published: 05 May 2023 https://doi.org/10.1002/inpr.315Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL No abstract is available for this article. References BRSCIC, M., CONTIERO, B., SCHIANCHI, A. & MAROGNA, C. (2021) Challenging suicide, burnout, and depression among veterinary practitioners and students: text mining and topics modelling analysis of the scientific literature. BMC Veterinary Research 17, 294 HANH, T. N. (2015) Silence: the power of quiet in a world full of noise. Rider HSE (2022) Protecting people and places. HSE strategy 2022 to 2032. https://bit.ly/43MHP5U. Accessed 20 April 2023 HÜBL, T. & SHRIDHARE, L. (2022) The ‘Tender Narrator’ who sees beyond time: a framework for trauma integration and healing. Journal of Awareness-Based Systems Change 2, 9– 27 MACY, J. & BROWN, M. (2021) Coming Back to Life: The Updated Guide to the Work That Reconnects. New Society Publishers MATÉ, G. (2022) The myth of normal: trauma, illness and healing in a toxic culture. Penguin Random House WATERS, S. & PALMER, H. (2021) Work-related suicide: a qualitative analysis of recent cases with recommendations for reform. https://bit.ly/3mIsYch. Accessed 20 April 2023 WHO (2021) 1 in 100 deaths is by suicide. https://bit.ly/3AhOCqV. Accessed 20 April 2023 WITTE, T. K., SPITZER, E. G., EDWARDS, N., FOWLER, K. A. & NETT, R. J. (2019) Suicides and deaths of undetermined intent among veterinary professionals from 2003 through 2014. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 255, 595– 608 Volume45, Issue4May 2023Pages 245-246 ReferencesRelatedInformation

What is a food system? Exploring enactments of the food system multiple

Recent years have seen widespread calls to transform food systems to address complex demands such as feeding a growing global population while reducing environmental impacts. But what is a food system and how can we most effectively work to change it? “Food System” can be found describing more limited dietary regimens as well as sector-specific supply chains going back to the 1930s, but its use to describe very large, dynamic, coupled socio-ecological systems gained traction in academic and civil society publications in the 1990s and this use of the term has increased dramatically in recent years. When the influential food system actors from non-governmental organizations, foundations, consultancies, and the UN that this research focuses on talk about food systems, they seem to be talking about the same thing. Yet the interpretive flexibility of the concept obfuscates that people may have very different framings that may be deeply incompatible. Drawing from interviews, participant observation, and document analysis, this paper examines what food systems thinking does in terms of setting the stage for how we enact the food system and efforts to intervene in it. It reveals that rather than leading to more expansive understanding, the unexamined use of the concept food system might actually serve to sharpen divides.

Essay on the Life and Manners of Robert Grosseteste. By PhilipPerry. Edited by Jack P.Cunningham. Catholic Record Society Publications 89. Woodbridge: The Boydell Press. 2022. l + 247 p. £50 (hb). ISBN 978‐0‐902‐83234‐3.

Journal for Eighteenth-Century StudiesEarly View Book Review Essay on the Life and Manners of Robert Grosseteste. By Philip Perry. Edited by Jack P. Cunningham. Catholic Record Society Publications 89. Woodbridge: The Boydell Press. 2022. l + 247 p. £50 (hb). ISBN 978-0-902-83234-3. John Flood, Corresponding Author John Flood [email protected] University of GroningenSearch for more papers by this author John Flood, Corresponding Author John Flood [email protected] University of GroningenSearch for more papers by this author First published: 03 April 2023 https://doi.org/10.1111/1754-0208.12885Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL No abstract is available for this article. Early ViewOnline Version of Record before inclusion in an issue RelatedInformation

Kathy Canul: Journal Ombudsperson

An Ombudsperson (or Ombuds) exists to help resolve disputes in a neutral, independent way. It’s a role that is common in government and journalism, but less so in scientific publishing. In 2022, when the American Chemical Society (ACS) Publications sought to create the role of ombudsperson as part of their “commitments to addressing systemic racism in chemistry journals,” they turned to Kathy Canul, an ombudsperson for the University of California system for over 20 years. As described by ACS,1 an ombudsperson serves as “an independent, impartial, off-the-record, and confidential channel for concerns regarding the peer-review process.” Recently, Kathy Canul and Shaina Lange, Senior Manager in the ACS Publishing Integrity Office, spoke with Science Editor about the role of an ombudsperson and its place in promoting inclusivity and equity. Science Editor: Let’s start with the basics: What is an ombudsperson? Kathy Canul: In brief, an ombuds is a resource available to address issues and obstacles that get in the way of an organization meeting its objectives and goals. ACS Publications wants to publish high-quality content that advances scientific knowledge. There are numerous steps in moving a research study through the submission, peer-review, and publication process, and along the way, there can be challenges in the process that may need to be addressed in order for the research to undergo a fair evaluation. As an ombuds, I serve as an independent, neutral, and confidential resource available to hear publication concerns from authors, reviewers, and editors. I listen to the issues brought forward […]

A Happy Farewell

A Happy Farewell JCMS In Summer 2018, we introduced ourselves as the new editorial team behind Cinema Journal by issuing a demand—and a promise—to decolonize the journal, the field, and the way the journal constituted the field. By its next issue, Cinema Journal had become the Journal of Cinema and Media Studies (JCMS). That name change was itself a pledge to become a new kind of journal. It was the first of many transformations we initiated in pursuit of greater equity and inclusion in academic publishing and film and media studies, broadly construed. We all devoted years of our lives to this project, because we believed and believe that the Society for Cinema and Media Studies' (SCMS) journal of record must reflect its membership's personal and disciplinary diversity and that the best way to express our love for cinema and media studies is by "constantly calling into question received ideas about that field and embracing new voices and concepts."1 So much has changed about Click for larger view View full resolution Figure 1. The cover of Cinema Journal 57, no. 4. Cover art by Scott Richmond. [End Page 1] the journal since the Summer 2018 issue that we felt it incumbent upon us to reflect briefly on those changes—and the future transformations they anticipate—as we joyfully hand JCMS over to its new editors. To develop an editorial agenda organized around professional equity and respect for diversity, we demanded recognition of an unfortunate and uncomfortable truth: "many of our fellow [SCMS] members do not feel recognized by SCMS or its journal."2 As the publication of a learned society, JCMS belongs to the SCMS membership—period. Its area of inquiry is whatever film and media studies means to them—period. And if members feel that the journal is inhospitable to their subfield, then the journal needs to change—period. We recognized that we as editors not only needed to reach out to members of historically underrepresented groups and fields; we needed to apologize and hold ourselves accountable for the journal's past exclusionary practices. Consequently, we changed the journal's review procedures to include revision and resubmission so we could work with authors on developing their ideas for publication. We implemented new submissions management software to accelerate the review process. We separated book reviews from the In Focus topics in order to prioritize books by precariously employed scholars and scholars from underrepresented groups, showcase books from less industrially prominent presses, and promote important new titles in a timely fashion. Book Review Editor Laura Isabel Serna worked hard to spread the service of reviewing and ensure that senior scholars as well as junior scholars and graduate students lent their insights to this important endeavor. We also made our book reviews open access, so that more scholars could benefit from our reviewers' insights. We added two Co-editors of Outreach and Equity, who spearheaded the JCMS Publishing Initiative and a Facilitated Peer Review process to pair minority scholars with senior mentors prior to submission to help them prepare their work for publication. The Co-editors of Outreach and Equity also commissioned a study of the journal's publication record over the past twenty years.3 Led by digital humanities scholars Yelana Sims and Nina Lorenz—with contributions from all seven SCMS caucuses—this study documents the journal's long-standing biases and establishes a foundation for further accountability and transparency. Frankly, it doesn't make us look very good, which was precisely the point. We needed to own our shortcomings so we could do better. We also felt compelled to improve the accessibility of the journal—and indeed the society it represents—for film and media studies scholars around the globe. We switched publishers in order to pursue a digital-forward publishing model that would make JCMSjournal.org the locus for all our paywalled and open access content while also preserving quarterly print issues for those who choose to receive them. On our website, we launched [End Page 2] an annual Fifth Issue of peer-reviewed research articles featuring work by authors who either chose or were compelled by funding structures to publish open access. (Prior to...