Standards and Perceived Roles of JMC Journal Reviewers

Abstract

The average reviewer for a journalism and mass communication scholarly journal sees four to six manuscripts per year, is male, white, 46 years old, holds a doctorate and senior rank, and is widely published. This survey of 215 reviewers of 11 JMC journals (including Journalism Quarterly, Journalism Monographs, and the Journal of Communication) finds that about one-third of the polled reviewers feel they help set the agenda of the field, although more gave that power to journal editors. About seven of ten review for more than one journal, suggesting that the criteria used in evaluating manuscripts—for example, clear conceptualization and strong evidence—are widely spread across the journals of our field.