A note from the editor-select

Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media, Dec, 2007 by Susan L. Brinson

The Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media has, for many years, been one of the top-tier journals in which media scholars publish. In September 2007, I become the editor-select of this journal, an appointment I'm deeply honored to assume. For the past 50 years JOBEM has been edited by many of the leading scholars in our field and their unselfish work resulted in the Journal's stellar reputation. I am humbled to be included in their company and pledge to maintain the Journal's premiere standing.

The editorial transition has already begun. Donald G. Godfrey, the current editor, and his staff graciously shared their time with me during a visit to Arizona State University in early February 2007, during which I learned the administrative intricacies of managing submissions and publication. Don, Beverly Fraser, and Jennifer Barraza are terrifically supportive and encouraging, and I appreciate their efforts on my behalf. I assure members of the Broadcast Education Association, and media scholars around the world, that I will make every effort to maintain the same efficient review and editorial process that currently exists at JOBEM.

Regarding the review process, authors can expect that their manuscripts will continue to be reviewed by leading scholars in a timely fashion. I do not plan to make significant changes in the Editorial Board, although it is likely that I will invite a few additional scholars to join it.

Currently, reviewers are asked to assess manuscripts within 60 days. That turnaround time seems a bit long. There are many junior faculty who are under considerable tenure pressure. When I start reviewing manuscripts September 1,2007, I plan to shorten the review period to 6 weeks. Finally, I will institute a strict policy regarding the length of manuscript submissions to JOBEM. Manuscripts that exceed 30 pages in length (including references, appendices, tables, etc.) will be returned to the author(s) without review. Brevity is strongly encouraged.

One of the great strengths of our discipline is the multiplicity of methodologies we use to better understand the relationship between media and individual/society. The Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media has a long-standing and excellent reputation of being a quantitatively oriented journal. I appreciate the significant contributions of this research, but want to continue to broaden the Journal's methodological scope. There is a considerable amount of superior critical, historical, policy, and ethnographic work underway in our discipline, and I welcome those scholars and their research.

Although the scope of our research inquiries is broad, there are two areas on which I plan to devote special issues of JOBEM. One special issue will focus on women and minorities in the electronic media, while the other will focus on economic class issues. In both cases, I hope to receive submissions that represent a wide range of methodologies that analyze the current state of women/minorities and class issues in the electronic media.

I plan to continue the Review and Criticism section of the journal and Dr. Louise Benjamin will serve as its editor. We are discussing our goals for the section, which I will communicate to the readership very soon.

Finally, I want to recognize several people and groups for supporting my editorship. I thank the Broadcast Education Association and its Publications Committee for endorsing my application, and look forward to working with both over the next few years. Every editor is required to have considerable institutional support, and I'm pleased to recognize Auburn University for its generosity in this regard. My home department of Communication & Journalism, and particularly my department chair, Dr. Mary Helen Brown, have been strong supporters of my editorship since I first broached the idea. Auburn's College of Liberal Arts provides funding as well. I am especially indebted to Provost John Heilman and Associate Provost Sharon Gaber for their support. BEA, JOBEM, and I are fortunate to have such significant institutional support.

I look forward to working with the readers of JOBEM to continue producing the top journal in our field.