[Esip-ejournal] Ejournal scope: initial draft

[Robert R. Downs]

All -

Creating a scope statement for the proposed ejournal offers a way for us 
to begin defining the kind of journal that we would like to establish.  
The scope statement would not have to be written in stone, but it would 
enable us to refer to it when making decisions, including decisions to 
change it, if necessary. Many of the issues related to the scope of the 
journal have been implied during our discussions. If we begin to state 
them, we can determine whether there is consensus and then move forward 
to create the journal we envision.

To facilitate the process, the scope statement might:
 
1) identify the name of the journal.

2) describe how it will be disseminated (ejournal)

3) include a position on the quality of works published and how such 
quality would be achieved (peer-review)

4) define the types of works that would be published (theory, research, 
practitioner/professional)

5) provide some examples of the topics that would be solicited

6) possibly describe topics the journal would not cover, to eliminate 
unintentional drift.

Based on our discussions, a very rough draft of a scope statement is 
presented, below. Please share your thoughts on how it might be improved.

Initial Draft of Scope Statement

The ESIP Federation electronic journal (name here), will publish 
peer-reviewed works on data and information management issues of Earth 
science, including articles addressing the development and technical 
aspects of tools and services that facilitate the discovery, 
dissemination, use, and evaluation of Earth science data. Articles are 
encouraged that report on the following topics and other related issues:

Identification and testing of products for integrating and disseminating 
data

Design and implementation of online tools for analyzing data

Adoption of standards for the development of data services

Methods and techniques to improve data discovery

Not data policy issues?

 
Thanks,
Bob