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Author: Penny Freedman

There are many jobs to juggle as an editor running a successful journal – everything from soliciting articles, building a strong board, and navigating publishing ethics. This month we’re highlighting the various components of running a journal, with an eye on providing tips and advice. 

Finding quality peer reviewers is an essential task of managing a successful journal. Ideally, over time, you will create a pool of reviewers that you can rely on time and time again for thorough and accurate reviews. Building that resource can seem like a daunting task to undertake. Read on below for tips on where to focus your efforts.

• Begin your search for qualified reviewers by checking the reference list of the manuscript you are seeking reviewers for.
• Search , , , , or similar platforms for researchers that are publishing in the same field. Always ensure that there aren’t any conflicts of interest before considering them as a reviewer.
• Take a global perspective when narrowing down your list of reviewers. An ideal review will include reviewers from more than one country.
• Check with your editorial board members for individuals in their network that might be suitable for reviewing.
• Begin the conversation with potential reviewers with a simple query, not the full manuscript.
• Don’t overwork your reviewers. Try to limit to one request per month, and only after they have finished any outstanding reviews for your journal.
• Remember to thank reviewers for their contribution. For many of our journals we offer the option to provide verification certificates of thanks through our peer-review tracking systems Editorial Manager and eJP.

Learn more about peer review.