Scholarly communications and publishing organizations across the industry are invited to join the Society for Scholarly Publishing (SSP), The Scholarly Kitchen (TSK), and the Masters in Publishing program at George Washington University (GW) in highlighting issues of publishing ethics during the first-ever unofficial “Publishing Ethics Week,” happening this week, October 10-14, 2022.
Launching today with a special collection of resources, #PublishingEthicsWeek22 brings together events, toolkits, best practices, and original research from a host of scholarly publishing organizations:
American Chemical Society
AUPresses
Coalition for Diversity in Scholarly Communications (C4DISC)
In our latest alumni profile, talented MPS in Publishing graduate Anna Miller shares her perspectives and insights on the GW Publishing program, its impact on her career, and her plans to launch her own publishing company. Anna is a project manager at Pubvendo.
What was the most challenging aspect of the MPS in Publishing program? What was the most rewarding?
The most challenging part of the program was also the most freeing part. In each class, we were able to choose our project topics. This enabled us to really dig into what topics were important to us. This both enabled us to grow as young professionals and challenged us to really figure out what our interests were and how we wanted to use our degree to pursue those interests.
What do you hope to do after graduating from the MPS in Publishing program?
My dream is to use my degree to create my own publishing company, and I am already in the process of doing so. The freedom that we were given in our assignments to pursue our passions has led to a great foundation for starting my own publishing house. I am very excited for where this journey will take me.
Anna Miller, MPS in Publishing,2022
What are some of the reasons you decided to pursue the MPS in Publishing degree? Why did you choose GW specifically?
I decided to pursue the MPS in publishing program because I have a love for books and a love for writing. This program seemed like the perfect opportunity to blend the two into a career that I would love and enjoy. Growing up, one of my biggest goals was to pick my career based on my passions and choosing the MPS in Publishing program was a step in that direction. I chose GW because I liked that it catered to working individuals. I really wanted to get professional experience after my undergraduate degree, but I also wanted to get my Masters. This program enabled me to do with, and to do both well. Additionally, this program is affordable, which not many programs can say!
My dream is to use my degree to create my own publishing company, and I am already in the process of doing so. The freedom that we were given in our assignments to pursue our passions has led to a great foundation for starting my own publishing house. I am very excited for where this journey will take me.
What advice would you give to new or prospective students to the MPS in Publishing program?
This program is incredible and really allows you to grow into publishing in the way you imagine it for yourself. The classes provide the foundation and the knowledge, but the instructors allow you to incorporate your passions into your work. It is a lot of work, but it is extremely manageable even if you’re working full-time.
Who (or what course) has made the biggest impact on you during your time at GW?
This is a tough question. I gained so much from all of the courses. However, I have to say the Publishing Entrepreneurship course because it made me realize that I don’t have to wait twenty years to start my publishing house. I can start it now, even if it starts out small. It was so empowering hearing from all the various publishing entrepreneurs.
What have you found to be the value of the MPS in Publishing degree, and how are you using what you learned, as a rising publishing professional?
One of the biggest values the program afforded me was connections. I actually landed my job after I emailed a guest speaker at my Marketing class inquiring about a job. Additionally, I have a wide knowledge of the publishing industry now that I use in my job daily. It has granted me the confidence to speak up at work and share my ideas, because this is a field that I am both passionate about and knowledgeable in.
One of the biggest values the program afforded me was connections. I actually landed my job after I emailed a guest speaker at my Marketing class inquiring about a job. Additionally, I have a wide knowledge of the publishing industry now that I use in my job daily.
How are you using what you learned in your publishing courses in your day-to-day work at Pubvendo and in your career?
I work for a book marketing agency, so I use the strategies I learned in Book Marketing and Book Publicity and Promotion pretty much daily! It is so fun being able to share my knowledge to help my clients’ books be successful.
The publishing program is paramount in my decision to go ahead and start my publishing company, Personal Digest Publishing. It is still in the building stages, but it is in the works due to the inspiration and knowledge provided by the publishing program and my instructors.
Giuliana Macaluso is an outstanding graduate of the MPS in Publishing program, College of Professional Studies, George Washington University, and recipient of the 2022 CPS Graduate Distinguished Scholar Award. In this Alumni Profile, we hear from Giuliana about the impact of the MPS in Publishing program on her career.
For me, the MPS in Publishing program was an exercise in understanding the phrase “There’s no time like the present.” As I considered applying for this program, I was concerned it “wasn’t the right time”—we were in the middle of the strictest period of lockdown, I was working full time, I had several personal responsibilities, etc. However, once I took the first step and applied for the program, I immediately felt more confident that there was never going to be an ideal time to pursue a graduate degree; I simply needed to take the plunge. Now, with the program completed, I am so glad and proud that I set aside my hesitations and my hope for “the perfect time”; this program has been a fantastic experience, and I recommend it highly regardless of career stage or level of experience.
Giuliana Macaluso, MPS
What is the most rewarding aspect of the MPS in Publishing program?
The most rewarding aspect of the MPS in Publishing program is the chance to network with both experienced and early-career publishing professionals. Many courses in the program include interviews and guest lectures by respected publishing professionals whose advice is instrumental in planning for and executing next steps in one’s career. In addition, the program offers opportunities to make valuable professional connections with classmates with a range of experiences and perspectives that enrich classroom interactions. As a graduating student, I look back fondly on the friendships I have made with my classmates during the two years of the program, and I look forward to seeing how my fellow cohort members make an impact on the publishing industry in the future.
What is the most challenging aspect of the MPS in Publishing program?
The most challenging aspect of the MPS in Publishing program is choosing between the array of electives. This program offers a range of electives in editorial, business, technology, and more, and deciding which electives would be the most beneficial for one’s future career is difficult! George Washington University’s MPS in Publishing program offers advising services to help each student choose courses that best meet their professional goals, and I highly recommend taking advantage of these opportunities. I am pleased with my choices and feel that both the core classes and the electives I selected will be major assets as I progress in my career.
What are some of the reasons you decided to pursue the MPS in Publishing degree? Why did you choose GW specifically?
I decided to pursue the MPS in Publishing program because I have always been interested in practical applications of language and communication, and I am especially interested in scholarly publishing. This program covers each of these aspects—and more. The very high caliber of the teaching faculty in this program is a major asset to the learning process, and each professor is an expert in their field.
The MPS in Publishing program at GW is also one of the only publishing graduate programs in the country, offering a unique, practical experience for aspiring and veteran publishing professionals alike. GW also offers the MPS online, which afforded me the flexibility I needed to complete the program while working full time.
What advice would you give to new or prospective students to the MPS in Publishing program?
This is a program that recognizes effort, and although it is designed to be flexible, students who gain the most from this program are those who put the most effort into their assignments and projects. I highly recommend engaging fully with the course material, including supplemental resources, lectures, and readings. You get out of the program what you put into it.
I’d also advise incoming students to meet with a GW student success coach early in the program to determine how to organize their schedule for the duration of the program. It’s important to decide early on when you hope to graduate so that you can plan your course schedule accordingly, and the GW advisory staff are a major resource for ensuring you are maximizing your time and keeping your target graduation date in mind from the get-go.
Who has made the biggest impact on you during your time at GW?
John Warren, the director of the MPS in Publishing program, has made the biggest impact on me during my time at GW. John consistently offers his individualized career advice and guidance to each student in the program and is consistently available for one-on-one meetings. John has a wealth of experience in a variety of publishing outlets and uses his experience to tailor his advice for each student’s aspirations. John has made it clear to graduating students that he will continue to be a mentor as we progress in our professional careers, and I value this continued willingness to support alumni.
To incoming students, I highly recommend meeting with John regularly as well as making opportunities to meet with your other professors, especially those whose career paths align with your interests and goals. The publishing industry is highly network driven, and your professors want to get to know you—don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and schedule a time to chat!
How are you using what you learned in your publishing courses in your day-to-day work?
The MPS in Publishing program has taught me invaluable skills in time management, which I apply daily in my professional career. Balancing a full-time career with part-time pursuit of a graduate degree is challenging, but my capacity for prioritizing and perseverance has been strengthened as a result.
What have you found to be the value of the MPS in Publishing degree, and how are you using what you learned, as a rising publishing professional?
The MPS in Publishing degree taught me the value of a professional network. As I advanced through the program, I made every effort to meet individually with professors to learn more about their career paths. Because there are dozens of students in each cohort, it’s extremely beneficial to take (or make!) opportunities to meet with professors to gain advice to apply to your future. In addition, your fellow classmates also present a networking opportunity—get to know them!
The theme of this year’s conference is Equitable Publishing. The Association of University Presses (AUPresses) and the Society for Scholarly Publishing (SSP) are co-sponsors of the GW Ethics in Publishing Conference. Attending this virtual event is free-of-charge, and registration will open in September.
We are soliciting conference presentations from (and for) publishing and library professionals, scholars, faculty, and publishing students. Topic ideas include, but are not limited to: • Ways to enable and implement equitable, inclusive, and accessible publishing • Efforts to make workplace practices equitable in publishing organizations, including internships and early-career positions • Efforts to ensure diverse voices are part of the conversation about inclusion, equity, and accessibility • Work to ensure peer review, authorship, editing, publications metrics, etc., are equitable and free of bias • Work to make publications more accessible
Alumni and current students in the GW Publishing program are also invited to present on their Ethics in Publishing Capstone projects, including both “Making the World Better” projects and Case Studies..
Kogan, Tempietto
Presentations will include panels as well as “PechaKucha” style, short talks.
The 11th Ethics in Publishing Conference co-organizers are Puja Telikicherla, Licensing & Subsidiary Rights Manager, American Psychiatric Association Publishing, and Adjunct Professor, George Washington University; and John W. Warren, Director and Association Professor, Master of Professional Studies in Publishing, George Washington University.
Deadline for presentation proposals/submissions: September 8, 2021.
We will endeavor to accommodate as many presentations as possible. Registration for the conference will be free.
The Journal of Ethics in Publishing is excited to introduce the four student-led committees working to help launch the journal. Each of these four committees deal with different aspects of the journal: Editorial, Marketing, E-Publishing, and Strategy and Sustainability. We recently asked the four committee leads to describe what their committees are charged with, what they’ve accomplished thus far, and what role they will play as the journal continues to evolve and work towards publication.
The Editorial Committee of the Journal of Ethics in Publishing has been charged with stewarding the fair, unbiased double-masked peer review of journal submissions; identifying opportunities to recognize referee contributions; and developing guidelines to maintain journal integrity.
The committee has been hard at work establishing processes to optimize its operations. With the ethical imperative of the journal ever on our minds, the committee’s regular meetings involve discussion around best practices for peer review. We’ve also engaged in research and leveraged professional networks to identify peer reviewers whose expertise and values align with the mission of the journal. In preparation for the first issue of the journal, our inaugural articles have been identified and sent to peer reviewers to solicit feedback—and we’ve already received a reviewer report!
I look forward to seeing the Editorial Committee’s role in the journal continue to solidify and evolve as we move toward the journal’s launch—and over the coming years. This is an integral and enthusiastic committee that affords members experience that will be useful in any publishing profession. And we’re always looking for new members! If you’re interested in learning more about the editorial side of journal publishing, I highly encourage you to join!
Emily Hatcher
Marketing Committee
Lead: Emily Hatcher
Marketing committee members: Sarah Godlin, Corrine Gosling, Abby Norton, Caitlin Monday, Haley Mullins, Nicole McConnell, and Donna Prideaux.
The Journal of Ethics in Publishing’s first marketing committee has been tasked with strategizing, designing, and implementing marketing strategies for the journal. Throughout the past couple of months, the committee has met weekly to brainstorm ideas, discuss content strategy, and begin to establish the journal’s identity as a whole. So far, we’ve created a customer persona, social media strategies, and a content calendar, and we’re continuing to work on setting up social media accounts and starting a weekly email newsletter.
This group is extremely passionate and energetic and I’m so excited to see how the committee will continue to celebrate and amplify the journal.
The E-Publishing Committee for the GW Journal of Ethics in Publishing has been charged to develop and maintain the online journal presence, ensuring discoverability, appropriate indexing, and successful implementation of industry standards. So far, we’ve been developing a taxonomy for our content to support an indexing strategy, a set of author guidelines to better prepare manuscripts for the platform, as well as a Corrections and Errata policy. Lately, we’ve begun to discuss how to present special collections and how to enhance the user experience.
I look forward to continuing to build a strong digital foundation for George Washington University’s newest born-digital publication.
Ashley Warren
Strategy and Sustainability Committee
Lead: Ashley Warren
Strategy and Sustainability committee members: Ambriah Underwood, Julie McClenahan, Elizabeth Von Mann, Madison Neuner, Maeve Hayden, and Sydnie Koetje-Simin
Board Liaison: Lois Jones
The GW Journal of Ethics in Publishing’s Strategy and Sustainability Committee has been charged with being the Journal’s moral compass, guiding it through industry disruption while establishing and protecting a legacy of excellence and a tradition of quality. We strive to ensure the Journal serves its readers and the publishing industry for many years to come, while never compromising its values or integrity.
Currently, the Strategy and Sustainability team is working to develop the initial processes that will provide the Journal with critical assets for the future. In sub-committees, members are developing student volunteer recruitment and retainment methods; evaluating the competition and searching for potential hurdles; considering long-term peer reviewer relationships; creating data matrices; and actively working to find grants and other funding opportunities.
Our committee looks forward to working together, and with future student volunteers, to help the Journal of Ethics in Publishing find perennial success.
The four committee leads work closely with our Editorial Board Student Representative, Gabrielle Bethancourt-Hughes, to help drive initiatives and establish a solid foundation for the journal.
While there have been many accomplishments, there is still so much work to be done! If any of the above committees interest you, we will be accepting new members in the fall; we will send out a request for volunteers when the time comes. This is a great opportunity to gain real-world experience, work more closely with your peers, and help to publish important content.
The CPS Graduate Distinguished Scholar Award is awarded to a graduating student who demonstrates academic excellence while exemplifying the core competencies of the College, which are:
Develop ways to engage with individuals with diverse backgrounds and perspectives and promote an inclusive environment for the betterment of their profession.
Foster collaboration in professional situations by knowing how to incorporate other’s views, motivations, interests, and strengths in the pursuit of solutions.
Lead by creating innovative practices and inspiring others to join them in delivering better results.
Practice professional ethics by advocating for and making choices that uphold the principles and values of their fields.
Think strategically in researching and analyzing data and contexts to set goals, solve problems, and formulate and implement shared visions.
Communicate complex information and ideas to, and solicit and incorporate feedback from, a variety of audiences.
I’m extremely proud to announce the CPS Distinguished Scholar award recipient: Master of Professional Studies in Publishing student, Jeremy Ottley.
Jeremy Ottley, MPS in Publishing, CPS Distinguished Scholar Award Recipient
Students in the Publishing program, and throughout the master’s and certificate programs of College of Professional Studies are a talented group. Jeremy Ottley is an exemplary student; his contributions have benefited his peers as well as our faculty.
In particular, let me highlight his Ethics in Publishing Capstone project. The Ethics in Publishing course, over the course of only eight weeks, asks students to conduct either an Applied Ethics Project (that “makes the world better”) or a Case Study/research project.
Jeremy, in these short eight weeks, researched a paper investigating the remarkable lack of university presses in Historical Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU’s). His case study began with a question: why are there no university presses at HBCUs? This emerged from his career search, as he was interested in potentially working at a HBCU Press. But there are none.
During the course of his research, Jeremy interviewed several prominent publishing executives, professors of civil rights history; literary activists; and scholars, while also conducting literature and archives research.
To say the project was accomplished is an understatement. His project emerged as a fully-formed paper ready for publication in a scholarly journal.
Though he had a self-confessed trepidation of public speaking, he nevertheless contributed to class WebEx meetings and activities with insights, on topics from diversity in publishing to publishing technologies, to production. His posts to students on discussion boards have been encouraging and insightful.
In his professional capacity, Jeremy is a digital production specialist at Project Muse, Johns Hopkins University Press. His expertise in technology and production aspects of publishing, which are often inscrutable to many students but provide excellent career prospects, have been beneficial to a wide range of students. He has a bright career ahead in publishing.
Please join me in congratulating this year’s recipient of the CPS Distinguished Scholar Award, Jeremy Ottley.
John W. Warren Director and Associate Professor, MPS in Publishing
Tuesday, May 25th, Noon-1pm ET— Free and open to all
Calling all publishing professionals—aspiring and experienced! Are you preparing to interview for that next opportunity? Need a refresher on interviewing best practices and what will get you noticed in the publishing profession? Join the Publishing CareerBuilder to learn interview skills, strategies and tips to set your candidacy apart from the rest. We will explore a few interviewing strategies and techniques to impress in phone, virtual, and in person interviews. Mindset is so important in the interview process too, and we will cover some tactics to help you minimize stress.
Kogan, Tempietto
Join GW’s Publishing Program Director, John W. Warren; College of Professional Studies Career Services Director, Nicole Mintz; and Senior Career Counselor, Graduate School of Education and Human Development (and MPS in Publishing student!) Tyana Anglin through this interactive and engaging CareerBuilder.
Our monthly Publishing Career Builder Series continues on Thursday, April 15, 7:00 pm ET, examining Careers in Book Acquisitions. This is one you won’t want to miss, with a stellar line-up of experienced book acquisitions editors, including panelists Greg Britton, Editorial Director of Johns Hopkins University Press; adjunct professor, Publishing, George Washington University; Jermey Matthews, Ph.D., Acquisitions Editor, the MIT Press; Jane Bunker, Director of Cornell University Press; Kate Roddy, Assistant Editor at independent trade publisher Sourcebooks; MPS in Publishing 2019.
Acquisitions editors play a leading role in how publishers identify, select, and secure the books they publish. In this month’s publishing career builder webinar, we’ll examine careers in acquisitions for professional, scholarly, and trade books. Our panelists, Greg Britton, Editorial Director of Johns Hopkins University Press, adjunct faculty member in publishing at the George Washington University; Jane Bunker, Director of Cornell University Press; Jermey Matthews, Ph.D., Acquisitions Editor, MIT Press; and Kate Roddy, Assistant Editor, Sourcebooks (MPS in Publishing 2019), will discuss the skills needed for success in an acquisitions role, to identify promising projects, work with authors to refine those ideas, and assess the editorial, financial, and market viability of those projects. We’ll discuss job search strategies and the variety of different editorial roles. We’ll also discuss acquisitions editors’ role in efforts to increase the diversity and variety of publishing voices.
Moderators: Nicole Mintz, Career Services Director, College of Professional Studies, George Washington University; and John W. Warren, Director and Associate Professor, MPS in Publishing, George Washington University.
Speaker bios:
Greg Britton is editorial director of Johns Hopkins University Press, where he oversees the publishing of 170 new books annually. He also acquires the Press’s list in Higher Education studies. Greg serves on the press’s management team that directs the substantial book and journal programs, distribution service, and Project Muse. Prior to his appointment at Hopkins, Britton directed Getty Publications at the J. Paul Getty Trust. He is active in both the Association of American Publishers and the Association of University Presses, which gave him their 2016 Constituency Award. In 2018, the Council of Independent Colleges presented him with their Academic Leadership Award. He wrote “Thinking Like a Scholarly Editor: The How and Why of Academic Publishing” a chapter in Peter Ginna’s What Editors Do: The Art, Craft, and Business of Book Editing (University of Chicago Press, 2017.) Greg writes occasionally for the Chronicle of Higher Education and Inside Higher Education. Greg will be joining the MPS in Publishing program in Fall 2021 to teach the new course Mastering Book Acquisitions.
Jane Bunker is Director of Cornell University Press. Previously, she was Director of Northwestern University Press. She began her career at SUNY Press, where she acquired books in philosophy, psychology, women’s studies, and education. She earned her M.A. in Philosophy from Fordham University and B.A. in Philosophy from St. Norbert College.
Jermey Matthews, is Acquisitions Editor for Physical Sciences, Engineering, and Mathematics books at the MIT Press. He is also an advisor for the new MIT-Candlewick Press imprints: MIT Kids Press and MITeens Press. Prior to these roles, he was an associate editor and book reviews columnist for Physics Today, the flagship magazine of the American Institute of Physics. He obtained his terminal degree, a PhD in chemical engineering, from the University of Maryland. Some of his notable signings include The Dialogues: Conversations about the Nature of the Universe, a graphic book by string theorist Clifford Johnson, Fire, Ice, and Physics: The Science of Game of Thrones by physicist Rebecca Thompson, and The Curie Society an original YA graphic novel by Heather Einhorn and Adam Staffaroni.
Kate Roddy is an acquisitions editor of adult fiction, adult non-fiction, and college reference at Sourcebooks—an independent trade publisher based outside of Chicago. She previously worked as a production editor at Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group, and she earned her Master of Professional Studies in Publishing at The George Washington University with Cohort 13. Prior to that, Kate earned a Bachelor of Business Administration at the University of Tulsa with minors in Creative Writing and English.
Moderators
Nicole Mintz is a Career Coach who specializes in executive leadership development coaching. She currently serves as the Director of Career Services for GW’s College of Professional Studies.
John W. Warren is Director and Professor of the MPS in Publishing program, College of Professional Studies. He has 30 years of senior management experience in publishing, having led groundbreaking initiatives in digital content development and distribution, including eBooks and enhanced eBooks, short-form digital content, open access journals, and open educational resources. Prior to leading GW’s publishing program, he launched a new university press and library publishing program at George Mason University, and directed marketing and ebook development efforts at Georgetown University Press, the RAND Corporation, and Fondo de Cultura Económica USA.
ACES: The Society for Editing announced that Lori Sosa, a student in Cohort 16 of the MPS in Publishing Program at the George Washington University, has been awarded a scholarship in the amount of $2,500 for 2020-21. Previously, Gabrielle Bethancourt-Hughes(Cohort 15) and Amy Megill(Cohort 14) were awarded ACES scholarships in 2019-20. Publishing Program Director John W. Warren spoke with Lori, Gabrielle, and Amy about the ACES scholarships, their backgrounds and goals in publishing, and the importance of networking and membership in publishing societies such as ACES.
Q: Why did you apply for the ACES scholarship?
Lori Sosa
Lori Sosa: There aren’t very many scholarships available to grad students, to be honest, so I was excited to see a scholarship opportunity I could actually qualify for. When I found out that part of the scholarship would help send the winners to the ACES annual conference, I was even more excited. It’s been my dream—a very nerdy dream, I know—to go to the ACES conference one day. I’m so grateful for the opportunity to go!
Gabrielle Bethancourt-Hughes: When I applied for an ACES scholarship, I was a first-year GW Publishing student who did not come from a publishing background. ACES made it clear that they are committed to connecting editors, furthering education in the field, and supporting newcomers. The scholarship offered many benefits, one of which was a complimentary ticket to the ACES conference. Their annual conference is an impressive gathering of all the biggest names in editing and the session topics were beyond thrilling for the word nerd in me. Last year’s lineup included The Invention of the Modern American Dictionary, Edit Sober: Quick and Dirty Tips for Editors, and Grammar Saves Lives. I knew I wanted to be there. (ACES made the most of the pandemic and hosted the conference online, as they will do this year.)
Amy Megill: I’ve been a member of the American Copy Editors Society (ACES) for several years, but I never thought to check and see if they had scholarships. Thankfully, Professor Warren sent an email to my cohort mentioning it, so I applied. (This involved things such as taking an editing test and getting letters of recommendation.) Then, I actually won!
Q: What did winning the scholarship mean to you?
Gabrielle Bethancourt-Hughes
Lori: I’m not someone who ever wins things, so this was an especially wonderful surprise. I love editing, and I’ve worked hard to continually improve my editing skills, so to win an award for those skills is extremely validating.
Gabrielle: Winning this scholarship was invigorating. The application included an editing test, so a win reassured me of my editing abilities, and it assured me that I was on the right track. Moreover, the scholarship win also provided substantial prize money, which was used to further my education at GW.
Amy: Winning meant I didn’t have to take out quite as much money in student loans, so it has saved me from some debt. (What a relief!) The money ACES gave me for the scholarship went straight to my tuition.
Q: Tell us a bit about your background in publishing. How long have you worked in the field of editing?
Lori: I loved editing papers back in high school, and I was lucky enough to go to a college that had an editing program. At Brigham Young University, I majored in English language and literature and got a minor in editing. I hadn’t planned to work in magazines, but I got a magazine internship after I graduated in 2012. That internship helped lead to my current job with an international children’s magazine called the Friend. I spent seven years there as copyeditor and am now the assistant managing editor. Editing for children forces you to write in a really simple, concise way, which is much harder than you might think!
Amy Megill
Gabrielle: I taught high school English for five years, and while I enjoyed the grammar lessons, helping students find their voices through their writing, and discussing books, I knew I wanted to play a more behind-the-scenes role in the world of books. I obtained a certificate in editing from the University of Chicago and then entered into the publishing program at GW.
Amy: Regarding my publishing background, I’ve been a professional editor for fourteen years. I started in journalism and later ended up in more technical roles, most recently in STEM. I’m currently a senior technical editor for an IT consulting company in Houston, and I’ve also run my own freelance editing business, EditorAmy.com, for almost eight years. With freelancing, I get to edit more creative materials (versus what I edit for my day job), such as novels.
Q: How has becoming a member of ACES impacted you in the profession?
Lori: Editing can feel like a fairly solitary profession at times (no one else cares about the commas quite like you do), so having a whole community of editors through ACES has been a really valuable resource.
Gabrielle: With an ACES scholarship win on top of this as well as an ACES membership that includes some unique connections and opportunities, I am looking forward to a lengthy and successful career in publishing.
Amy: I enjoy being a member of ACES for so many reasons: networking opportunities, continuing education (e.g., webcasts), and the job board. It’s definitely a great resource for editors.
Q: What can you tell us about your longer-term career goals in publishing?
Lori: I’ve been really, really lucky to get my dream job so early. I love writing and editing for children, and I’ve begun to get more management experience, which has been helpful. I’m looking forward to gaining even more experience through the master’s program at GW. I’d like to keep progressing in my current job and to get better and better at writing for a global audience. Someday I would also like to teach editing at a university; my editing professors made such a huge difference in preparing me for my career, and I’d like to do the same for someone else.
Gabrielle: After graduation from GW (2021), I hope to pursue a full-time role in a publishing house or university press as an editor or a production associate. ACES will keep me up to date in the latest style guide changes, their continuous training offerings will keep me sharp, and the networking opportunities will enrich my life as well as my career. [Gabrielle can be followed on Twitter at @gabethancourt]
Amy: Long term, I’d like to either stay in STEM or move to a full-time editing position in publishing. Having my master’s degree in publishing now will certainly open some doors for me. Wherever I end up, I know I’ll always be editing.
Details for the 2021-22 ACES Scholarships will be available in Spring 2021. The scholarship application deadline is November 15, 2021.
The GW Journal of Ethics in Publishing proudly announces Gabrielle Bethancourt to the Editorial Board as the student representative to the board’s founding membership.
Gabrielle Bethancourt
Gabrielle is a second-year student in the MPS in Publishing program at GW. She holds a Certificate in Editing from the University of Chicago, and taught high school English for five years before assuming her current role as a technical writer/editor. Gabrielle obtained her BA in English from Tulane University and served as an Editor for the Tulane Literary Review. She currently resides in New Orleans with her husband and one-year-old daughter.
“It is an honor to be selected as the student representative on the editorial board,” says Bethancourt. “My time in GW’s MPS in Publishing program has already supplied me with a wealth of knowledge and experience in the publishing world, but this is a unique opportunity to advance industry standards in ethics. It is also a great privilege to work with such accomplished professionals in the field. I look forward to serving my student community as a representative and the publishing community at large with this new journal.”
Gabrielle joins board members Josephine E. Sciortino, Lois Jones and Julie Vo, who were announced earlier this month as inaugural members of the editorial board by Editor-in-Chief Randy Townsend.
“To successfully launch this journal, strong editorial leadership is critical, and it’s imperative to have student representation on the editorial board, working alongside publishing experts,” says John W. Warren, Director and Associate Professor of the MPS in Publishing program, College of Professional Studies. “Gabrielle’s contributions were important, as well as those of her peers, to the launching of this journal, and her accomplishments in the program make her a natural fit for joining the board. My vision for the journal has always been to provide opportunities for our students to learn the ends and outs of journal management, while contributing to the research and literature of ethics in publishing. Student support and enthusiasm for the journal has been remarkable.”
In addition to Gabrielle’s editorship, the journal is also launching student-run committees to target 4 key objectives.
Editorial, led by Giuliana Macaluso, will steward the fair, unbiased double-masked peer review of journal submissions, identify opportunities to recognize referee contributions, and develop guidelines to maintain journal integrity.
ePublishing, led by Jeremy Ottley, will develop and maintain the online journal presence, ensuring discoverability, appropriate indexing, and successful implementation of industry standards.
Marketing & Promotion, led by Emily Hatcher, will cultivate a strategy to raise visibility of the published content, helping further ethical discussions presented by authors, and ensuring the journal brand consistently reflects values of integrity, equity, transparency, and scholarship.
Strategy & Sustainability, led by Ashley Warren, will be the moral compass guiding the journal through industry disruption while establishing and protecting a legacy of excellence and a tradition of quality.
“With Gabrielle joining the editorial team and the formation of these four committees, we are honoring our commitment to offer real-world experience and leadership opportunities to the publishing students, strengthening and adapting skills to the development of the journal,” says Townsend. “These committees will help establish the journal’s personality and characteristics. I am inspired by the enthusiasm surrounding the journal and looking forward to publishing great content.”
The Journal of Ethics in Publishing, managed by students in the GW Publishing program, welcomes articles, case studies, and conference presentations from scholars, students, and publishing professionals on topics including, but not limited to, diversity and inclusion, accessibility, peer review, open access, sustainability, publishing metrics, equity, and other aspects and issues of ethics in publishing. If you are interested in submitting to the journal, please see the Call for Papers for more information.
