Summary of the C4DISC Toolkit: A Focused Toolkit for Journal Editors and Publishers: Building DEIA in Editorial Roles and Peer Review

Although most scholarly journal editors/publishers recognize the value of DEIA (diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility) among their associate editors and editorial boards, it can be overwhelming to constitute a new editorial board or change a long-established one, in which diversity has not been included. Editors need advice and practical suggestions regarding the actions they can take to diversify their boards and promote equity in peer review. The latest toolkit in the Coalition for Diversity in Scholarly Communications (C4DISC) Toolkit for Equity series, A Focused Toolkit for Journal Editors and Publishers: Building DEIA in Editorial Roles and Peer Review,1 was released Tuesday, May 7, 2024, on the C4DISC website. The toolkit was authored by members of the Society for Scholarly Publishing's DEIA Committee. The toolkit recommends "practical and relevant actions for editors and publishers to take to create broad representation on editorial boards and to ensure fairness and minimization of bias in the peer review process." The following is a brief summary of the major sections of the toolkit. Five major recommendations explored in the toolkit are reflected in the infographic (Figure). Recommendation 1 The first recommendation outlines actions to help develop an inclusive culture and mission. One of the first steps is an editorial commitment to create a diversity statement and to consider publishing it along with an editorial committing to addressing inequities in the field. In selecting an editorial board, suggested actions include setting goals for diverse representation, including new people in the editorial process, and appointing one or […]