Publish as editorial board member?

[Santommaso]

I joined an editorial board of a journal that I like very much, but I have never published there. I have published on the topic covered by the journal, and had planned to send a manuscript there eventually. But now that I am on the editorial board, does that mean it is no longer a potential venue for my scholarship? Being on the editorial board has meant evaluating @10 manuscripts a year. Obviously I wouldn't handle my own manuscript. Should I ask the editor-in-chief, or is it obvious that I should submit my manuscripts elsewhere?

[Parasaurolophus]

In my field, it seems pretty normal for board members to publish in the journal. There may be an expectation that they not regularly do so, but nothing worse than that (and I'm not at all sure that expectation really is there in the first place).

Publishing as one of the editors seems like a different matter to me. And although I know of a few who do so, I think it's mega shady.

[darkstarrynight]

In my field, it seems pretty normal for board members to publish in the journal. There may be an expectation that they not regularly do so, but nothing worse than that (and I'm not at all sure that expectation really is there in the first place).

Publishing as one of the editors seems like a different matter to me. And although I know of a few who do so, I think it's mega shady.

I agree with Parasaurolophus. I am on the board of some journals and have published in them during my term. Otherwise, if I submit to journals whose board I am not on, I tend to get asked to guest review anyway. I am starting an Editor role this Fall so I do not plan to submit to that journal until after my Editor term ends in 3 1/2 years.

[lightning]

One workaround is to inquire about submitting an "invited" article. "Invited" is not worth nearly as much as "blind" "peer-review," but when it's tied to your service role as an editor, it magnifies your professional service, and in tandem, your service as an editor magnifies your "invited" article.

This is useful for a paper that has been rejected as a peer-reviewed paper everywhere else, but you feel it still has merit and you simply want to get it out there.

It's also great for diffusing the awkward situation of editorial board members submitting to their own journals, and providing an up-front option as a suitable out and saves face, for all parties involved.

Of course, your invited paper would have the big ugly "Invited Paper" tag, and it will never have a second life as a peer-reviewed published article.

[Santommaso]

OP here. Thanks, everyone! Extremely helpful in allying my worries. I'll submit the manuscript!