In a previous editorial (Interciencia 32: 502) consideration was given to the existence of a culture of scientific publication of a world-wide character, in which the journals produced in Latin America differ, unfavorably, from those published in the first world. On that occasion the influence of language was commented as a primary limitation for the reach and dissemination of scientific literature.

A second contrasting element between the existing situation in the so-called first world journals and those from Latin American countries is that while in the latter the term editor is used to designate a publishing house, in the first ones a clear difference is established between the editor, who manages the strictly intellectual aspects of the journal production, from the publisher, who handles the physical production and usually, the commercialization of the journal. Although it is only a matter of a single word, the concept interpretation strongly affects the perception that people have about the job.

In the Anglo-Saxon scientific publication culture the editor performs a central role in the coordination of the reception, evaluation and editing of the papers submitted to the journal. It is with the editor and his team that authors, editorial committee members and specialized referees communicate. He has very little, if anything at all, to do directly with the physical production, financing and distribution of the publication, activities that correspond to the publisher. This situation allows a clear separation of functions among the two figures.

The editor supports himself on the editorial committee of the journal, to which it renders account. The committee, in turn, is responsible of editorial policies, the orientation to be given to the contents, their reach and their level. Together with the editorial committee a leading role is played by the referees, expert professionals in their respective fields who determine the merits of each one of the works submitted, recommending, or not, the acceptance and publication, and playing a pedagogic function of great value. After all, large part of the final quality of the published material depends on them.

In our region, in contrast, there is a mixture of functions all concentrated on the person that has the responsibility of managing the journal and, almost without exception, he will disperse his efforts in a number of activities for which he is not necessarily well prepared, given his predominantly voluntary character.

Another contrasting element and one that undoubtedly also represents an important factor in the production of journals of excellence is the professionalization of editorial teams. While first world journals have editors trained for, and dedicated to carry out this work, which leads them to hold positions that are recognized by their institutions and properly remunerated, in our countries editor’s functions are typically assigned to voluntaries from the academic world who dedicate a variable part of their research and teaching time to that end. This characteristic of our journals is tied to the reduced and generally local audience they have, as well as to the meager or null importance given in the region up to only a few decades ago to science periodical publications.

One of the needs deeply felt by those who deal with scientific editorial functions is that of training personnel for carrying out such tasks and establishing the possibility of a professional career in this specialty.

Unfortunately, the absence of courses or training programs aimed at turning this in a reality is notorious. Therefore, two lines of work can be suggested to the organizations responsible for publication programs, whose considerable effort and investment is often evident. On the one hand it would be very useful that such institutions care about the organization of formative events for the editorial work, relying as much as possible on international cooperation. On the other hand, entities for the promotion of science should consider the establishment of institutional positions adequately remunerated for the performance of editorial duties.

Miguel Laufer. Editor Interciencia