DEIA Implementation Resources for Editors: An Interactive Session for Building a DEIA Action Plan

REPORTER: Erin Landis KnowledgeWorks Global Ltd. This interactive session focused on equipping editorial staff and journal editors with practical tools and frameworks to implement Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) initiatives. The organizers acknowledged that while the current political climate in the United States complicates DEIA work, journals should not be deterred from their efforts to make the research process, including scholarly publishing, more diverse and inclusive. One of the key resources presented was the “Focused Toolkit for Journal Editors and Publishers: Building Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility in Editorial Roles and Peer Review,”1 an expansion of the Toolkits for Equity Project2 from the Coalition for Diversity and Inclusion in Scholarly Communications (C4DISC).3 C4DISC works with organizations and individuals to build equity, inclusion, diversity, and accessibility in scholarly communications. The fundamental premise of the Focused Toolkit is that editors can play a crucial role in broadening representation and facilitating meaningful change in scholarly publishing. The toolkit outlines five core areas of action. First, editors can promote an inclusive culture and mission by drafting DEI statements, leveraging organizational resources, encouraging data sharing, and including diverse individuals in editorial processes. Second, collecting and reporting demographic data is recommended, taking care to protect anonymity. Editors should gather baseline data, regularly report findings, and reassess their efforts, using methods such as manuscript submission tracking and external surveys. Third, recruiting through active outreach and open processes enables editors to focus on characteristics and strengths rather than solely on accolades, incorporating open calls for participation. […]