Editorial Board (Clinical Radiology Journal)

Introduction

The College Regulations state:

• “Each Faculty shall appoint an Editorial Board for the management of the Journal produced by the Faculty as a Journal of the College.”

• “The constitution and regulation of the Editorial Board of each Faculty, and appointments to the Editorial Board and termination of such appointments shall be at the discretion of the Board of the Faculty.”

These terms of reference set out the constitution and regulation of the Clinical Radiology Editorial Board as established by the Board of the Faculty of Clinical Radiology.

Terms of Reference for the Clinical Radiology Editorial Board

1. To ensure that Clinical Radiology maintains its reputation as an independent source of high-quality information for members and Fellows of the RCR.
2. To ensure the highest standards of peer review, in line with the current guidelines from relevant bodies (eg, COPE - the Committee on Publication Ethics) and in accordance with the policy of the Journal.
3. To commission new material, including review articles, commentaries and editorials in accordance with agreed policy.
4. To define, refine and implement the Journal’s ethical standards, including the principle of Editorial independence.
5. To supply and discuss innovative ideas for the development of Clinical Radiology and ensure that the Journal is of high quality and is developed to the benefit of the College’s members and Fellows.
6. To contribute to the ongoing development of efficient procedures for the peer review and approval processes and for the presentation of clear instructions to any author wishing to submit material to the Journal.
7. To participate in the agreed arrangements for awards and prizes (Editor’s Choice, Robert and Elma Kemp Harper Prize, Ella Preiskel Prize, Ellis Barnett Prize).
8. To receive and discuss reports from the publishers.
9. To make available clear instructions to any author wishing to submit material to the Journal.
10. To have in place a mechanism to deal promptly with author grievances as/if they arise.
11. To keep the Journal under review.
12. The Clinical Radiology Editorial Board is accountable to the Clinical Radiology Faculty Board.
13. The Editorial Board will report regularly through the Editor (see 24 below) to the Clinical Radiology Faculty Board on its work and will keep the terms of reference under review.

Membership of the Clinical Radiology Editorial Board

14. All members shall serve as Assistant Editors and are appointed by the Editor.
15. All members shall be in active clinical practice at the time of their appointment.
16. The number of appointed members will be determined by the Editor in consultation with the Vice-president, Clinical Radiology, in order to provide suitable sub-specialty representation for the purposes of peer review.
17. Members usually serve for terms of five years, renewable for a further period as required by the Editor to ensure suitable sub-specialty expertise.
18. The membership should where possible reflect the ethnic diversity of the profession, the geographical spread of members and the sub-specialisation of clinical radiologists.
19. Members must abide by any stated or implied confidentiality that attaches to the work of the Editorial Board during or after any period of membership.
20. Members must comply with the provisions of the General Data Protection Regulation as regards processing and disclosure of any personal data where it is made available to them as part of the work of the Editorial Board.
21. Ex-officio members will be: the President, the Medical Director, Membership and Business and all Clinical Radiology Officers.

The Editor

22. The Regulations state:

The Editorial Board of each Faculty shall be chaired by the Editor of the Faculty Journal, who shall be appointed in accordance with the procedure outlined below.

• "The Editor of the Journal produced by each Faculty shall be appointed from among Fellows on the roll of the Faculty resident in the United Kingdom in accordance with the procedure and for the term decided by the Board of the Faculty.
• Each Editor shall be responsible for the day-to-day management of the Journal and its publication at such intervals, under such title as may be prescribed by the Council and in accordance with the policy of the Council.

• Each Editor shall ensure that the Journal produced by his Faculty is sent to all members of the Faculty upon such terms as to payment or otherwise as the Council may from time to time prescribe.

• Each Editor shall report the proceedings of his Editorial Board promptly to the Board of the relevant Faculty."

23. The duties of the Editor are:

• To implement the terms of reference and ensure they are observed.

• To be responsible for the editorial control and scientific quality of Clinical Radiology including soliciting, scientific editing and co-ordination of referring and submissions:

  •  To oversee the timely publication of Clinical Radiology and to ensure that the content is relevant to clinical radiologists and in line with the educational aims of the College.

  • To ensure a high standard of peer review, commission new material with the help of the Editorial Board, including review articles, commentaries and editorials.

  • To define and refine the Journal’s ethical standards, including the principle of editorial independence.

  • To correct publisher’s proofs to an agreed timetable.

• To work with the Editorial Office to maintain high standards of editorial processing to ensure that all material submitted to Clinical Radiology is dealt with in a timely manner.

• To make available clear instructions to any author wishing to submit material to the Journal.

• To have in place a mechanism to deal promptly with author grievances as/if they arise.

• To liaise with the publishers of the Journal.

• To liaise with the RCR Faculty Board and Special Interest Groups to ensure that the Journal reflects material that is pertinent to the aims and objectives of the RCR.

• To appoint in consultation with the Vice-President, Clinical Radiology a geographically representative Editorial Board capable of maintaining the highest peer review standards in accordance with the terms of reference.

• To chair all meetings of the Editorial Board.

• To engage all members in the work of the Editorial Board.

• To provide a forum for members of the Editorial Board to supply and discuss innovative ideas for the development of Clinical Radiology.

• To review the work of the Editorial Board, and the terms of reference at least once during the term of office and make any recommendations arising from the review to the Vice-president, Clinical Radiology.

• Where a member fails to be active or fails to attend meetings, to form a view about whether that member should be invite to vacate his or her place.

• To ensure regular reports are made to the Faculty Board, providing a written report to and attending at least one meeting of the Board each year.

• To ensure that relevant matters are drawn to the attention of the Vice-president, Clinical Radiology, another Clinical Radiology Officer, the Faculty Board or the Clinical Radiology Officers’ Group as appreciate.

24. The term of office for the Editor is four years, and it will run from the date of the College AGM in the year of appointment.

The Appointment of the Editor

25. The procedure for appointing the Editor was established by the Board of the Faculty of Clinical Radiology in February 2003 and is as follows:

• About one year before the date of retirement of the Editor, there should be an announcement to the Faculty Board and to the Editorial Board.

• An announcement should be prepared for inclusion in the Journal, Newsletter, website, E-bulletin, and mailing pack requesting applications for the position of Editor.

• A panel comprising the Vice-president, Medical Director, Education and Training (MDET), an Editorial Board representative, a Faculty Board representative, a Publisher’s representative and an external person should convene to conduct interviews.

• One or two names should be proposed to Faculty Board.

Deputy Editors

26. Deputy Editor vacancies should be advertised to the membership in the Journal, Newsletter, website, e-bulletin and mailpack.
27. Applications will be assessed by the existing Editor and Deputy Editors, scoring the applications against criteria specified in the role description. The highest scoring applicant will be appointed. In cases where it is not possible to select between applicants based on the scoring criteria, interview can be considered.   
28. The Deputy Editors will provide assistance to the Editor in the day-to day management of Clinical Radiology.
29. The Editor and Deputy Editors will agree suitable allocation of duties to deal with the assignment of assistant editors and decisions on submissions.
30. The Editor will determine the number of Deputy Editors required at any given time for the successful conduct of Clinical Radiology.
31. The Deputy Editors will provide cover for the Editor during any absences.
32. In the absence of the Editor at a particular meeting, a chair of the meeting will be elected from those Deputy Editors present.

Operation of the Clinical Radiology Editorial Board

33. There will normally be up to two meetings in each College year.
34. The quorum shall be not less than three appointed members.
35. The Editorial Board will not, outwith the Journal, express any opinion or make any statement purporting to be the view of the College publicly or to the media without first consulting and agreeing the approach with the Vice-president, Clinical Radiology.
36. The Editorial Board will not send representatives to other bodies or meetings on behalf of the College unless that has been agreed in advance with the Vice-president, Clinical Radiology.
37. Members should advise the Editor of any significant conflict of interest.

Approved by the Board of the Faculty of Clinical Radiology: 22 June 2018