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A Guide for the Editorial Advisory Board

Last updated: 22 September 2026

advisory_guide.Rmd

Mission

The Editorial Advisory Board (EAB) provides independent, longer-term guidance to the R Journal’s editorial team (the Executive Editors (EEs), one of whom is the Editor-in-Chief (EIC), and the Associate Editors (AEs)). Unlike the editorial team, EAB members do not typically handle individual submissions. Instead, the Board acts as a source of continuity, historical perspective, and strategic advice, helping the editorial team steer the journal’s direction, policies, and standing within the R community.

Members are expected to draw on their experience with the R Journal, the R community, and academic publishing more broadly to support the editorial team in matters that are better addressed with outside perspective, rather than through the day-to-day handling of papers.

What is expected of EAB members

As a member of the Editorial Advisory Board, you are expected to:

  1. Provide feedback and advice on the strategic direction of the journal, including editorial policy, scope, and process changes proposed by the editorial team.
  2. Offer historical perspective on nominations for new Executive Editors. When the EIC is recruiting a new EE, the shortlist of candidates is shared with the advisory board for comment before candidates are approached.
  3. Assist in resolving conflicts between authors and the Journal when requested by the EIC, particularly in cases that the editorial team feels are better handled with independent input.
  4. Respond in a timely manner to requests for input from the editorial team, whether by email or Slack/Zulip. Advice from the Board is most useful when it arrives while a decision is still open. Members are expected to reply within one week or by an otherwise explicitly stated deadline, or to let the EIC know by that deadline that they are unavailable or need longer.
  5. Be available as a sounding board between meetings for occasional, lower-frequency questions from the EIC or EEs.

Members are not expected to review papers, manage submissions, or take on operational responsibilities of the editorial team. EAB members follow the journal’s conflict of interest policy and recuse themselves from matters where they have a conflict.

Communication

The EIC is the main point of contact for the advisory board and will reach out by email or Slack/Zulip when input is needed. EAB members are welcome to raise topics with the editorial team proactively as well, rather than waiting to be asked. The EIC organizes an annual meeting with the Board.

Appointment

EAB members are nominated by the EIC, in consultation with the EEs and the existing advisory board. The final decisions are to be made by the EIC.

Term

EAB members serve for three years with a possibility of renewal by mutual agreement.