Associate Editor's Role in Helping Authors and Upholding Journal Standards

Scientists must publish the findings of their research for the public good while making an impact on behalf of their funding agencies and institutions or organizations. In this article, we examine associate editor responsibilities and functions to determine the suitability of manuscripts for publication in Agronomy Journal. Associate editors comprise the largest component of scientific editors on the Agronomy Journal Editorial Board and have more one‐on‐one contact with authors than do technical editors, the Managing Editor, the Assistant Editor, or the Editor. A large number of scientific reviewers assist associate editors in evaluating manuscripts submitted to the journal. Identifying qualified reviewers is a critical task for associate editors. Reviewers of manuscripts provide comments, suggestions, and recommendations for publication, while associate editors assess that information to determine if the manuscript should be published. During the review process, associate editors correspond and work with authors and reviewers, obtain revisions as needed, and mediate technical issues and differences. Because the ultimate goal is to help authors publish their papers, associate editors often find themselves as author advocates during the review process. Thus, associate editors carry a dual obligation in that they must serve the needs of authors and also uphold the standards and reputation of the journal.