EDI and publishing
Organisations who have academic publishing opportunities available must ensure that these embed and prioritise EDI. Not only will this help create an inclusive and fair publishing system, it also ensures that a wide array of voices and perspectives are heard.
On this page you can find advice, guidance and good practice examples related to EDI and publishing, including diversity in academic publishing and name changes.
This month's recommended publishing resource
This guiding checklist was created to prompt publishers on all the steps they need to consider when creating and implementing inclusive name change policies.
Diversity in academic publishing
These resources provide advice and guidance related to EDI and journal editing, including advice and examples of journal EDI statements, as well as inclusive language and imagery in academic publishing. Use the left column below to change categories. See the right column for a summary and link to each resource.
Here you will find resources providing general advice and guidance related to EDI and journal editing. See below for a breakdown of each resource.
Taking action on diversity
In this piece, Sage examine some of the steps editors can take to increase diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) within their journals.
Diversity in academic publishing: seven challenges and attempts at solutions
At the 2022 International Studies Association conference, 11 editors of international relations journals got together to discuss the role of journal editing in creating an inclusive discipline. While solutions aren’t always clear and there is no one-size-fits all approach, defining the problem is the first step. In this blog, Isabel Muttreja explores some of the challenges to improving EDI in journal publishing and how editors are trying to address them. Not everything here will necessarily be useful, but there are some good areas to reflect on, particularly around points two, four, five and six.
A framework for action in scientific publishing
This framework maps out the steps required to improve outcomes on inclusion and diversity at all stages of the scientific publishing process, and encourages stakeholders to action them. While this piece is specifically focussed on scientific publishing, the first section on building foundations provides useful guidance on the initial steps required to make a more inclusive publishing sector.
Here you will find resources providing general advice and guidance related to, along with examples of, EDI statements for journals. See below for a breakdown of each resource.
How to create a journal diversity, equity & inclusion statement
In this article, Wiley offer guidance on what constitutes a meaningful inclusivity statement. Not everything here will necessarily be useful, but there are some good areas to reflect on if you are considering developing an EDI statement for your own academic journal.
Sage Journals: Diversity, equity, and inclusion pledge
Sage Journals diversity, equity and inclusion pledge is an example of how one journal has approached their own EDI statement.
Bristol University Press: Equity, diversity and inclusion statement for journals
Bristol University Press’ equity, diversity and inclusion statement is an example of how one journal has approached their own EDI statement.
Here you will find resources providing general advice and guidance related to inclusive language and imagery in academic publishing. See below for a breakdown of each resource.
Guidelines on inclusive language and images in scholarly communication
The purpose of these guidelines is to help authors, editors, and reviewers recognise the use of language and images that are inclusive and culturally sensitive. By addressing the various forms of bias and discrimination currently found in published research, the intent of these guidelines is to set an industry standard that promotes proactive inclusive communication going forward. These guidelines cover everything from inclusive terminology to how to make sure publications are laid out in an accessible way.
Unconscious bias, language, and working with authors with disabilities
These guidelines, produced by Sage, are for Editors and Editorial Teams to support diversity, equity, and inclusion in communicating and working with authors and reviewers and focuses on topics such as unconscious bias, language, and working with authors with disabilities.
Academic publishing and name changes
These resources provide advice and guidance related to academic publishing and trans-inclusive name changes. Use the left column below to change categories. See the right column for a summary and link to each resource.
Here you will find resources providing general advice and policy guidance related to academic publishing and trans-inclusive name changes. See below for a breakdown of each resource.
A vision for a more trans-inclusive publishing world: guest article
This article presents five high level principles for trans-inclusive name changes in academic publishing and considers the implications of such a paradigm shift within the scholarly world. While the focus is on name changes for those who identify as trans, such policies have wide ranging benefits to a broader population of scholars who might seek to change their names for a diversity of reasons.
Inclusive name change policy for publishers (guiding checklist)
This guiding checklist was created to prompt publishers on all the steps they need to consider when creating and implementing inclusive name change policies.
For academic publishing to be trans-inclusive, authors must be allowed to retroactively change their names
Many trans researchers change their name to match their gender identity. However, there is currently no clear, simple or standardised way for publications to be updated to reflect this. As a result, many trans authors are caught between losing their publication record and involuntarily being outed. Lilian Hunt explains the existing name change policies and outlines experiences of trans researchers of the current system. She calls on publishers to adopt processes that will allow authors to retroactively change their name and highlights current good practice.