Biomedical journal editors are recruited, hired, sign contracts and get paid. But what do they actually do?  How does an Editor in Chief learn how to do their job effectively?  What are the metrics that measure improvement?  The Resources for Editors webpage was developed by editors for editors, as a resource for all current and prospective journal editors. 

One of the best examples of the roles and responsibilities of a biomedical journal editor is on The BMJ website.  Click on the link below to see more detail on each of the topics below. 

• Overview
• Ambassadorship
• Strategy and Budget
• Editorial Board
• Ethical Duties and Responsibilities 
• Publication Team
• Complaints and Concerns 

https://www.bmj.com/company/work-at-bmj-today/role-profile-editor-in-chief/

COPE is the Committee on Publication Ethics. New editors should get familiar with the COPE website and guidelines. Experienced editors follow COPE guidelines when investigating expressions of concern for a potential retraction. COPE helps editors determine difference between honest error, naivety of the rules, or blatant misconduct.

• Potential Paper Mills and what to do about them. A publishers perspective:  https://publicationethics.org/publishers-perspective-paper-mills
• A short guide on ethical editing for new editors: https://publicationethics.org/resources/guidelines/short-guide-ethical-editing-new-editors
• COPE Members can bring specific (anonymized) publication ethics issues to the COPE Forum for discussion and advice. More than 650 cases are archived on the COPE website.  Topics include:
  • Allegations of misconduct 
  • Authorship and Contributorship
  • Conflicts of Interest/Competing Interest
  • Complaints and Appeals
  • Data and reprodusability 
  • Ethical oversight
  • Intellectual property 
  • Journal Management
  • Peer review process
  • Post Publication discussions and corrections

• Visit ICJME for Roles and Responsibilities of Authors, Contributors, Reviewers, Editors, Publisher, and Owners: https://www.icmje.org/recommendations/browse/roles-and-responsibilities/
  • Defining the role of authors and contributors
  • Disclosure of financial and non-financial relationships and activities, and conflicts of interest
  • Responsibilities in the submission and peer review process  
  • Journal owners, society leaders, and editorial freedom 
  • Protection of research participants