Progress with EDITERRA Editors’ Handbook

Abstract

Since its foundation in 1968, the European Association of Earth Science Editors (EDITERRA) has regarded the preparation of a Handbook as a natural means by which the discussion of problems which editors encounter might be codified for the benefit of all editors. At early meetings the general pattern of the proposed Handbook was decided, and a number of draft sections were prepared and discussed in Assemblies of Editerra.

Later it was decided that the individual sections might be discussed more rapidly if small committees were set up, one for each section, and these committees sent their proposals to a Handbook Committee which would correlate their work and approve it for publication. Several of these committees produced drafts, but this mechanism also proved too slow, and so it was decided to commission specific persons to prepare drafts which were then circulated for comment and approval to the Handbook Committee. A number of sections have been approved in this way, and these are now being published as separate pamphlets which can be assembled to form the growing Handbook. The first five sections are being issued at the same time and a further two have been approved by the Handbook Committee.

Editerra Council recently reviewed the structure and dissolved the Handbook Committee, coopting the Handbook Editor onto Council. The future development of the Handbook will be under the direct control of the Council and will be reviewed by General Assemblies of Editerra.