MPS in Publishing Program Launches New Journal

Announcing the inaugural issue of the GW Journal of Ethics in Publishing

March 29, 2022

GW JEP

The Master of Professional Studies (MPS) in Publishing recently launched the GW Journal of Ethics in Publishing (GWJEP), a new online journal managed by students in the graduate program, led by faculty member and editor-in-chief (EIC) Randy Townsend, Director of Publishing Operations, PLOS, and an editorial board of publishing leaders.

GWJEP provides MPS in Publishing students an opportunity for hands-on experience managing a professional-level journal, provides a forum for students to publish their Ethics in Publishing capstone projects, and involves the wider community of publishing, library, media and scholarly communication professionals and scholars as board members, peer reviewers, authors and readers.


"The launch of the GW Journal of Ethics in Publishing celebrates all elements of the Master’s in Publishing program. The student commitment was nothing short of astounding, with committee members volunteering their personal time to prioritize the journal and balance immediate requirements against long term strategies,” commented EIC Randy Townsend.

“I was proud to see George Washington University professors, industry leaders, professional societies, and fellow alumni rally around the students and the journal, contributing expertise that guided them to 2.22.22, the official launch date. The students applied lessons in editing, marketing, permissions, business, design, and peer review to build the journal from the ground up."


According to EIC Townsend, more than 50 students contributed to the launch of the journal. Students chose to publish the first issue of GWJEP on 2.22.22, a date to reflect how unique and special it is and help everyone involved feel the energy of the day.

As the EIC, board members and student committees were put in place, there were many steps needed to be completed in the process before the journal could be launched. Many hands worked together diligently for more than a year to realize the vision and goals for GWJEP.

This process was guided by EIC Townsend, the editorial board, and MPS students and faculty. Four student-led committees include Editorial (led by Aimar Galarza, and previously by Giuliana Macaluso); Marketing (led by Donna Prideaux, and previously by Emily Hatcher); E-Publishing (led by Julie McClenahan, and previously by Jeremy Ottley); and Strategy and Sustainability (led by Madi Neuner, and previously by Ashley Warren). Graduate student Ashley Warren serves as Managing Editor.

They have established a vision emphasizing equity and quality for the journal with an exceptional peer review process involving leading publishing, library, and scholarly communication professionals, scholars, and researchers. This new scholarly journal explores efforts to enable and implement equitable, inclusive and accessible publishing.

This student-managed publication is an open-access resource, free for anyone to access online and is free from submission fees or article processing charges, providing opportunities for publication from underrepresented voices.

MPS in Publishing Director and Associate Professor John W. Warren conceived of the GW Journal of Ethics in Publishing and serves as publisher. GWJEP is published on the Manifold Scholarship platform, developed by the University of Minnesota Press, the CUNY Graduate Center’s Digital Scholarship Lab, and Cast Iron Coding, with a grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. The Society for Scholarly Publishing (SSP) is a sponsor of the journal.

Warren provides a Publisher’s Note in the first issue on "Reasons to Launch a Journal," which provides further insights into the motivations and goals behind the new journal.

To read GWJEP’s inaugural issue, and to submit articles for consideration, please visit: https://gwpress.manifoldapp.org/projects/journal-of-ethics-in-publishing.


Related Information: