Range of Topics Covered in Sept. Issue

摘要

By the time this note appears, the Joint Statistical Meetings will be over. And the editors will be very glad. JSM is a difficult time for us. We see all our friends whose articles we had to reject. And we see the colleagues whom we nagged, past all point of politesse, to get their overdue reports turned in. The Committee on Publications grills us about our backlog (which is always too large or too small); ASA staff members express concern about all the costly color figures we want; and each associate editor is handling some paper that is particularly problematic and buttonholes us for a few words. There is a great temptation to hide in one's hotel room. All these groups have good reason for concern. Part of our job is to work with the associate editors to troubleshoot problems, and it is often most efficient to do this in a face-to-face meeting at JSM. JASAs publication costs are large, and the ASA has a duty to its members to keep those under control. Similarly, the backlog requires regular attention, making it a constant balancing act. And although some referees take too long, there are almost always good reasons, or, at worst, simple human frailty. The culture of our profession has routinely tolerated slow refereeing; the editors are trying earnestly to effect necessary change, but it does not happen overnight.