Editor of Speculum Job Description

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Speculum, published quarterly since 1926, was the first scholarly journal in North America devoted exclusively to the Middle Ages. It remains the premier journal for all fields devoted to study of the western Middle Ages, a period ranging from approximately 500 to 1500 CE. In recent years, the journal has expanded its range of topics and methodologies, and has extended its geographic reach; it has added a review editor for scholarly work with a digital component, published a supplemental issue concerning medieval scholarship in the digital humanities, and a special issue on Race is forthcoming. It also produces a quarterly podcast to coincide with the publication of each issue. Speculum forms the intellectual center of the Medieval Academy of America, and editing the journal to an unfailingly high standard is demanding and absorbing. The main challenge for a journal representing such an enormously diverse field is to publish articles that make substantive contributions to their particular areas of expertise while appealing to the wide range of scholarly and disciplinary interests in the Middle Ages. The editor is responsible for maintaining this scope, and also has final responsibility for peer review and with acceptance of manuscripts and book reviews for publication.

Under the current exemplary editorship of Katherine Jansen, the journal produces 4 (long) issues per year; it is published on time, with a standard timely turnaround for submitted articles as well. The new Editor will need to sustain both the on-time publication of the journal and the rapid turn-around time for would-be authors. It falls to the Editor to assign prospective articles to at least two readers, to follow up with those readers when they are late, to reassign the pieces when the readers fail to produce a report, and to make a final publication decision on every submission. Review editors assign the book reviews and then fact-check them. Reviews are edited by the associate editor and the copy editor, but then are reviewed thoroughly by the Editor of Speculum, who may edit further. Filling staff positions at  the journal will be at the discretion of the Editor.

In order to maintain both the present level of productivity and the highest standard of quality, the Editor must be a medievalist trained to a sophisticated level of scholarship and must be able to work to deadlines under sometimes intense pressure. Careful attention to detail is fundamental, especially in regard to proofreading, and to the supervision of others who aid in this task. Commitment to expanding the journal, in terms of topics, methodologies, and the range of authors, while retaining a strong core of work in western European medieval scholarship, is also important. The Editor must thus be able to strike a healthy balance between continuing current production and emphases and also shaping the future of the journal. The development and editing of supplementary issues of the journal and the occasional special issue contribute to this expanding range of disciplinary subjects and methodologies.

 The Editor should demonstrate a willingness to work collegially with authors. Increased submissions have meant a low acceptance rate. It is crucial for the Editor to have the strong interpersonal skills necessary for corresponding with  authors whose work has been declined . The Editor must be skilled in maintaining confidentiality surrounding materials submitted, published, and rejected. They must be able to identify a wide range of medievalists to serve as readers and on editorial boards. The Editor is expected to keep careful archives of accepted articles and relevant correspondence.

The Editor of Speculum chairs two boards, an Editorial Board for the journal and a Board of Review Editors; dealing with them in a collegial and professional manner is crucial. The Editor also works closely with the publisher of the journal, the University of Chicago Press, maintaining contact with specific people in various offices at the Press and promoting strong communication between the journal and its publisher. The Editor must be able to work comfortably with the online submission management system, Editorial Manager. Additional support will be provided by a designated member of the MAA administrative staff.

It is expected that the Editor of Speculum will attend meetings, talks, and conferences where representation of the journal is important, and a small travel fund is provided by the MAA for this purpose. The Editor is expected to attend the annual meeting of the MAA, the International Congress on Medieval Studies at Kalamazoo, and the International Medieval Congress at Leeds  (expenses within reason are paid by the MAA).

The members of the search committee are as follows: Sara Lipton (Chair), Aden Kumler (Treasurer), Peggy McCracken, Cord Whitaker, M. Cecilia Gaposchkin, and Lisa Fagin Davis (ex officio)

For more information, contact: EditorSearch@TheMedievalAcademy.org

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