Application deadline: Friday 17 January 2025, 24.00 UTC/GMT
We are currently recruiting to the editorial board of the Community Development Journal (CDJ), for which I’m currently one of the co-editors. This is a normal enough practice for many publications, but a bit of a historic moment for CDJ, which has historically relied on recommendations from an existing board member over the past 59 years(!) of the journal’s existence.
The current CDJ editorial board takes a very constructive and democratic approach to decision-making, so I’m really excited for the potential to reach beyond our existing networks to expand our diversity of knowledge and skills. Moreover, as Kirsty Lohman and I note in our editorial for issue 60.1, this will be (as far as we are aware) the first time we have ever recruited beyond the UK and Ireland – something that I feel is long overdue.
The full call can be found below, cross-posted from the CDJ Plus website. If you are at all interested, please do apply! Importantly, we are seeking to recruit practitioners as well as researchers, so you do not need to hold any kind of academic post in order to apply.
The Community Development Journal is seeking to appoint up to five new Editorial
Board members to join us from March 2025. We welcome applications from
academics and practitioners globally, particularly encouraging those from under-
represented groups.
About the Community Development Journal (CDJ)
Established in 1966, the CDJ is the leading international journal in its field, covering
a wide range of topics, reviewing significant developments and providing a forum for
cutting-edge debates about theory and practice. It adopts a broad definition of
community development to include policy, planning and action as they impact on the
life of communities. We particularly seek to publish critically-focused articles that
challenge received wisdom, report and discuss innovative practices, and relate
issues of community development to questions of social justice, diversity and
ecological sustainability.
The journal is published in partnership with Oxford University Press on a profit-share
basis. The income received from the journal is managed by a charitable trust linked
to the journal, of which editorial board members are also trustees. The trust can fund
initiatives such as conferences, seminars and other activities that support its mission.
The strategic objectives of CDJ are currently:
- To produce the leading international journal in the field;
- To develop critical reflection and theoretical learning on community development;
- To promote international learning and exchange;
- To promote informed critical debate on community development theory and practice;
- To develop and support appropriate relationships, partnerships and networks to further these objectives;
- To ensure that CDJ is well governed and financially viable to achieve the above objectives.
With several long-standing board members retiring, we are looking to refresh the
membership with active and engaged people committed to promoting community
development scholarship.
About the role
Board member responsibilities include:
- Attending board meetings (virtually or in person) as required. There are currently two full-day board meetings per year, including one residential.
- Contributing as a peer reviewer to the journal at the request of the journal editors. This may include reviewing up to four articles per year.
- Supporting and participating in our events and initiatives.
- Promoting the Community Development Journal and encouraging submissions.
We ask that Editorial Board members commit to minimum of three years.
Who are we looking for?
The Community Development Journal is committed to equality, diversity, and
inclusion. We actively seek to create an Editorial Board that reflects the diversity of
the communities we serve and study.
Skills and experiences we would particularly welcome include some of the following:
- Good links to practitioner networks;
- Experience as a community development practitioner/academic;
- Financial management;
- Familiarity with UK charity governance;
- Interest in editorial roles;
- Supporting people to build capacity for writing;
- Organisation of community development focused events;
- Knowledge and/or experience of democratic publishing models.
How to apply
Please submit your application including:
- A brief statement outlining the knowledge, skills and experience you would bring
and explaining why you are interested in becoming a member of the CDJ Editorial
Board - A two-page CV
Send your application to secretarycdj@gmail.com with the subject line “Editorial
Board Application.”
Application deadline: Friday 17 January 2025, 24.00 UTC/GMT
For any queries, please contact secretarycdj@gmail.com
Dr Ruth Pearce 