AMTA Invites Applicants for MTP Associate Editor

Job Description and Announcement: Associate Editor, Music Therapy Perspectives

Music Therapy Perspectives expands its editorial team: The American Music Therapy Association (AMTA) invites applicants for two open positions as Associate Editor (AE) for manuscript reviews.

Music Therapy Perspectives (MTP) seeks to promote the development of music therapy clinical practice through the dissemination of scholarly work. It publishes all forms of reports that have implications for music therapy practice including clinically-focused research reports, innovative developments, case studies, educational research, and theoretical articles. With a focus on clinical benefits of music therapy, Music Therapy Perspectives strives to serve as a resource and forum for music therapists, music therapy students and educators, and those in related professions. The journal is published in partnership with Oxford University Press.

MTP’s objectives:

• Speak to the direct clinical and professional experiences of practicing music therapists, and in so doing advance the profession.
• Include information useful to music therapists, music therapy students, and professionals interested in the therapeutic uses of music.
• Address issues related to the supervision of music therapy students and the supervision of music therapists in both professional and advanced practice.
• Include articles addressing the education and training of music therapists.
• Address ethical concepts and issues as they pertain to music therapy education, training, research and professional practice.

Each AE is responsible for managing the peer review process for manuscripts assigned by the Editor-in-Chief. Applicants for two open positions are sought to join the team along with Dr. Laura Beer, Editor-in-Chief (EIC), Associate Editor, Dr. Jennifer Jones, and Dr. Noah Potvin, Associate Editor/Communications.

The AE is a volunteer position. The AE selects and assigns reviewers, manages the review process, recommends review decisions, and supports authors.  A central requirement is the ability to edit and work with authors on manuscripts, understand both clinical and research perspectives, assure methodological integrity, and promote the overall writing quality of each submission. Associate Editors meet periodically with the EIC and other AEs (via tele- or video-conference call) and attend the annual Editorial Board meetings held during the AMTA national conference.

Term of Service

The term of Service is four years and will coincide with that of the incoming Editor-in-Chief (EIC), Dr. Laura Beer. AE positions are planned to begin orientation in 4th quarter 2018, and each AE will commence their duties on January 1st, 2019.

Duties and Responsibilities

Reviewing Manuscripts: The Associate Editor -

• receives manuscripts for review from the EIC;
• reads manuscripts and sends them for review to selected members of the Editorial Board or to outside reviewers, as deemed appropriate to topic of article;
• collects reviewer comments and makes editorial suggestions about submitted manuscripts in a timely fashion;
• makes recommendations in cooperation with the EIC for assigned manuscripts regarding decisions to accept, reject, or revise manuscripts;
• in cooperation with the EIC, checks assigned manuscripts for completeness of content, proper format, permission to use copyrighted material, and any other requirements for publication;
• ensures reviews are impartial, fair, and adhere to principles endorsed by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE);
• preserves the confidentiality of the review process; and,
• actively participates as a member of the editorial team.

Corresponding with Authors: The Associate Editor -

• maintains all professional communications with assigned authors and reviewers within ScholarOne,

• serves as the point of contact for assigned authors, and

• answers author inquiries about the status of a submission.

Production: The Associate Editor -

• checks the final manuscript making sure all information is included before moving the document to the EIC for production processing.

Teamwork: The AE participates as a member of the editorial team consisting of the EIC, AEs, Business Manager, and publisher (Oxford University Press contacts).

Applicant Qualifications

• Evidence of an active publication record
• Clinical experience as a music therapist
• Excellent organizational skills
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Experience with a peer review process
• Demonstrated ability to work on a team
• Desire and ability to dedicate allocated time to Associate Editor responsibilities
• Ability to participate in ad hoc editorial team working conference calls
• Desire to serve as an ambassador for AMTA and the music therapy profession
• Prior service on the MTP or other Editorial Board (preferred, but not required)
• Experience in an editorial role (e.g., journal editor, book editor, thesis/doctoral supervision is preferred but not required)

Professional Membership. Current professional membership in the American Music Therapy Association is provided gratis as a benefit of service to the journal and the mission of AMTA.

Electronic letters of interest and a CV should be submitted to:

Dianne Wawrzusin, Administrative Services Coordinator, AMTA
Subject line: Associate Editor MTP
Dianne@musictherapy.org

Letters of interest are invited immediately and should be received no later than 5:00 PM ET on October 1st, 2018.

Interested applicants are encouraged to contact both Dr. Tony Meadows, EIC (ameadows2@su.edu) and Dr. Laura Beer, Incoming EIC (lbeer@maryville.edu) for more detailed information regarding these positions.

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