Workshop with the Editors of the Journal of African History

Thursday, 4 July, 2013 - 13:30

The co-editors of the Journal of African History will hold a workshop for authors interested in publishing articles in history or African studies academic journals at Wits Institute for Social and Economic Research (WISER), July 3-5.  The workshop will include panel discussions of what journal editors look for when reviewing manuscripts, the nuts and bolts of review and publication procedures, and the evolving relationship between traditional forms of publication and Open Access.  In addition, the workshop will provide authors interested in publishing in history or African studies journals with the opportunity to receive commentary from the Journal of African History co-editors on draft manuscripts (between 3,000 and 8,000 words), even quite preliminary ones.  

Authors – including graduate students – who would like to participate should rsvp via email to Lynn M. Thomas (lynnmt@uw.edu) by June 19th.  Manuscripts should then be submitted to her as email attachments by June 26th (one week in advance of the workshop).  Any questions about the workshop may also be directed to Lynn.

Established in 1960 and published by Cambridge University Press, the Journal of African History is the premier international journal focused on Africa’s past, extending from ancient times to more recent eras.  Historical approaches to all geographic regions of the continent are welcome.  The journal’s thematic range is equally broad, covering social, economic, political, cultural, and intellectual history.  Recent articles have explored diverse themes including:  labour and class, gender and sexuality, health and medicine, ethnicity and race, migration and diaspora, nationalism and state politics, religion and ritual, and technology and the environment.  The current co-editors of the Journal of African History are Cheikh A. Babou, Barbara Cooper, Richard Reid, and Lynn M. Thomas.  

The schedule for the workshop is:

Wednesday, July 3

2-3:30:  panel discussion of what journal editors look for in manuscripts, and the nuts and bolts of review and publication procedures

Thursday, July 4

2-3:30:  panel discussion on the relationship between traditional and Open Access publishing

Friday, July 5

10-12:  individual or small group meetings with authors

1:30-3: Isabel Hofmeyr: reflections on the trials and tribulations of publishing

All sessions will take place at WISER on the 6th Floor, Richard Ward Building, East Campus, University of Witwatersrand.