Publishing: art or science? Reflections from an editorial perspective

This essay conveys insights into the ‘journal process’ gained through my experiences serving in an editorial capacity. Here, three basic messages emerge. First, if a study is to be successful, it must address an interesting and important topic and then investigate it in a rigorous, scientific and robust manner. Second, the study must be communicated in a sufficiently transparent and accessible fashion so that the gatekeepers can critically evaluate the work, and ultimately so that it influences the readers of the journal. Finally, authors are strongly advised to subject their work to external scrutiny before submitting it for peer review, by exposing it to colleagues and/or by presenting it in public forum such as conferences or workshop seminars.