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When to consider editing a special issue?

In most recent "how can we help you?" thread, a reader asks:

When should I consider editing a special issue for a journal? It would be on a topic that I work on. Do only well-established, senior people do these, or can junior scholars also edit special issues? Is there any reason to do it before or after tenure?

Not sure. There are some obvious reasons to wait until after tenure: editing a special issue is presumably a time-consuming matter, and I'm assuming it best counts as "service" rather than research. But, as I've often heard, no gets tenure for service. The things that tend to matter most for tenure are research and teaching. So, all things being equal, it probably makes sense to focus on those things. Then again, maybe not everything is equal for the OP. If they've published plenty and have a good teaching record, then maybe it could make sense before tenure. Which is a long way of saying: I suspect the answers to the OP's questions depend a lot on the case–what kind of job the person is in, how good of a case they may have for tenure already, etc.

What do readers think?

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3 responses to “When to consider editing a special issue?”

  1. editor

    I do not think it is a wise investment for an early career scholar. It is a lot of work, and a type of work that is often unrewarding. I did do one, once. I probably will not do another again. Publish articles in selective journals on topics that interest you.
    I have also edited a few volumes (books). That is more rewarding. In two cases I was asked by a leading publisher to edit a volume. I got to choose who the contributors were (with some constraints and negotiation). And I felt I got to shape scholarship on that topic, as well as help some early career people connect with the core people in the area. To add to it, I get (modest) royalties , which you do not get with a special issue of a journal.
    Not all publishers are the same. I am completing an editing volume now with another press – the compensation is poor, and there will be no royalties. I will not work with them again (and I won’t referee book manuscripts for them again either).

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  2. postdoc

    I’m early career (postdoc transitioning to AP) and currently co-editing a special issue. I don’t think it should be a high priority for anyone early career, but it has been valuable seeing “how the sausage is made”. We’ve been pretty lucky finding reviewers, but it’s still been a challenge for some manuscripts, which makes me more understanding when an editor informs me one of my own manuscripts is held up. I think the most valuable thing has been reading referee reports written by senior people for the manuscripts of similarly well-established researchers. Not only is it helping me become better referee, but I’m certainly less hard on myself knowing that even established people get their ideas picked apart.

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  3. Joona Räsänen

    I have edited four special issues and I do not have a tenure (not even tenure-track job). I edited my first special issue while I was doing my PhD. It’s fun and you get to use your existing networks (and expanding them). Sometimes you might get your own paper published in it too, which might be somewhat easier way to a publication than submitting it outside the special issue. If you do not have own publications you should of course, focus on getting those first before doing editorial work. In general, editorial work serves the same purpose as peacock’s feathers: it simply show others that you have resources to spare.

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