Publisher's Note: Reasons to Launch a Journal

Abstract

As we launch the new GW Journal of Ethics in Publishing, this commentary outlines reasons for launching the journal and a brief history of its evolution to date. The journal was envisioned as a forum to publish articles, case studies, applied ethics projects, and other works on diversity and inclusion, accessibility, copyright, and other topics of ethics in publishing. Goals for the journal include providing a forum for students in Master of Professional Studies (MPS) in Publishing program at the George Washington University to publish their Ethics in Publishing capstone projects; offering graduate students an opportunity for hands-on experience managing a professional-level journal; and involving the wider community of publishing, library, media, and scholarly communication professionals and scholars in the effort, as board members, peer reviewers, authors, and readers. The GW Journal of Ethics in Publishing welcomes scholarly articles and case studies presenting research about ethical issues in publishing, applied ethics articles and projects that explore ways of contributing to communities, invited editorials and commentaries, reviews of books and digital projects with a focus on ethics in publishing, and GW Ethics in Publishing Conference presentations.