IThe editors of most academic journals are part-time, and this two day course was designed to cover the basic skills, attitudes and knowledge they need to fulfil their roles effectively, effectively – and with satisfaction.

The course had four main topics:

Editors: understanding their place in the world of publishing, their relationship to their owners, and their role and responsibilities;
Readers: using structure, design and subediting techniques to attract and keep them; 
Authors: operating effective processes of copy flow and peer review, attracting high calibre authors - and treating them ethically;
The public: dealing with pressure from outside sources and meeting responsibilities towards those sources.

One of the early problems was persuading eminent academics that there was anything to learn about being an Editor, and some refused their publishers’ suggestion that they attend. But those who did were almost universally enthusiastic. One wrote: ‘I came here deeply suspicious of being lectured to but found myself being provoked and stimulated’