Hello all. A question—how many of you have term limits as editor in place?

Joyce P. Griffin-Sobel
Editor, Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing
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The editor of the Journal of the Medical Library Association is appointed to a 3-year term and generally is limited to two terms.

T. Scott Plutchak
Editor, Journal of the Medical Library Association
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Annals of Epidemiology: 5-year contract, serves at the pleasure of the American College of Epidemiology, contract revokable by either side with 30 days notice. I just renewed, and there is no formal limit on number of terms.

Rich Rothenberg

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In a survey of 33 journals (10 members of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors and a random sample of 23 specialist journals), here is what we found:

Twenty-three of the 33 editors (70%) are appointed for a specific length of time (term of office), ranging from three to 10 years. The median term—five years—was used by 14 journals. Specialist journals are more likely than general medical journals to have a specific term of office for their editors (83% [20/24] vs 33% [3/9], P=.01).

Nine of the 33 journals have a maximum tenure for the editor, ranging from five to 10 years (median=10). Having a maximum tenure for editors was more common among specialist journals (33%, 8/24) than among general medical journals (11%, 1/9), but this difference was not statistically significant (P=0.4).

Seven journals, all non-North American, have a compulsory retirement age for their editors: 60 years for two journals, 65 for four, and 70 for one. General medical journals from outside North America (5/6) were more likely than general medical journals in North America (0/3) to have a compulsory retirement age (P=.05).

Source: Davis RM, Müllner M. Editorial independence at medical journals owned by professional associations: a survey of editors. Science and Engineering Ethics. 2002;8:513-528.

I'd be happy to email the PDF of the full article to anyone on request.

Best wishes,
Ron Davis
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The editor of the Canadian Journal of Cardiology is appointed by the national society for a 5-year term, which is renewable once.

Eldon R. Smith
Editor
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