Editorial

Citation

Finch, E. (1998), "Editorial", Facilities, Vol. 16 No. 3/4. https://doi.org/10.1108/f.1998.06916caa.001

Editorial

Why should I publish? This is a question which is rarely asked: but perhaps such a question should be asked by the readers of Facilities. The journal is not designed as a one-way flow of instructive information about how to manage facilities. It is edited and put together in a way that, it is hoped, will motivate readers to respond and perhaps develop their own publication, contradicting, reinforcing or developing arguments put forward in particular papers.

It can be a lonely job being an editor sometimes ­ you have an overwhelming desire to ask: "Is there anybody out there?". Something gets published and yet there is no feedback. In future editions there will be an opportunity for readers to present critical responses (both positive and negative) to papers: those which develop sound arguments will be published. It is hoped that in this way, readers will start to appreciate that they are actually part of the debate: they are potential contributors and their research or experience may be equally valid.

The refereeing process reserved for papers submitted as academic contributions to the journal, does provide a fruitful feedback mechanism. I have often seen referees' comments which could legitimately be used as papers in their own right. This inevitably filters down, resulting in an improved quality of the refereed papers. For researchers looking for a recognised publication route, Facilities provides a high profile opportunity.

The global spread of the Facilities editorial board, with regional editors in all continents, provides a valuable point of contact for potential authors and I hope that those readers considering publication will take the opportunity to discuss their ideas with them.

Edward Finch