This is a free event. Please register via the SSP site here: https://customer.sspnet.org/ssp/EventDisplayNPGF.aspx?EventKey=WEB260225

SSP Community Town Hall: Standing Together Against Bullying: Creating Respectful, Safe, and Supportive Professional Communities in Scholarly Publishing

Bullying and harassment, whether overt or subtle, have no place in scholarly publishing. Yet many professionals across editorial offices, publishing organizations, and volunteer-driven societies still encounter behaviors that undermine psychological safety, limit inclusion, and erode trust. To help our community address these challenges with clarity, compassion, and shared purpose, leaders from four major organizations—the Society for Scholarly Publishing (SSP), the International Society of Medical Publication Professionals (ISMPP), the International Society of Managing and Technical Editors (ISMTE), and the Council of Science Editors (CSE)—are coming together for an open, solutions-focused Town Hall.

This discussion will explore what bullying looks like across professional settings, including social media and other digital communication spaces, workplaces, volunteer committees, conferences, and other interactions, and why addressing it is essential to maintaining integrity, equity, and excellence in our community. Conversation will focus on the policies, practices, and cultural commitments these organizations are putting in place to foster respectful engagement and to support individuals who experience inappropriate behavior.

Attendees will gain insight into constructive conflict resolution, bystander intervention, and leadership strategies that promote healthier team and community dynamics. The webinar will also highlight opportunities for collaboration across societies to establish shared expectations for conduct and to strengthen accountability across the publishing ecosystem.

This session will provide practical tools and a united message for everyone: creating a safe and welcoming environment is everyone’s responsibility, and it is achievable when we work together. 

Speakers

David Allen, Senior Partner, A&M Editorial Solutions

Rebecca McLeod, Managing Director, Harvard Data Science Review, Harvard Data Science Initiative

Jennifer Regala, Senior Director, Publishing and Product Development, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists

Emilie Gunn, Journals Director, American Society of Clinical Oncology and President, Council of Science Editors

Randy Townsend, Associate Professor, The George Washington University

ISMTE Statement on Bullying, Harassment, and Professional Conduct

The International Society of Managing and Technical Editors (ISMTE) is committed to fostering professional communities that are respectful, inclusive, and psychologically safe. Bullying, harassment, intimidation, and discriminatory behavior, whether overt or subtle, have no place in scholarly editing, publishing, or in the professional interactions that support the integrity of the scholarly record.

ISMTE maintains clear expectations for professional behavior through its Code of Conduct, which applies to its conferences, meetings, committee activities, and related events. These expectations also extend to professional interactions among ISMTE members, volunteers, and leaders, as well as to interactions with others that occur in connection with ISMTE activities and responsibilities. The Code of Conduct defines unacceptable behavior, establishes reporting mechanisms, and outlines consequences, including removal from events and, in serious or repeated cases, suspension or revocation of membership under ISMTE’s Bylaws. These measures reflect ISMTE’s belief that accountability is essential to maintaining trust, professionalism, and a positive community experience.

At the same time, ISMTE recognizes that bullying and inappropriate conduct are not limited to formal events. Such behaviors can occur in editorial offices, peer review interactions, volunteer activities, online communication, and other professional settings that shape editors’ daily work and career development. These experiences can undermine confidence, inclusion, and wellbeing, and ultimately affect the quality and integrity of scholarly publishing.

As a professional society, ISMTE sees its role as setting expectations, modeling respectful conduct, and supporting editors through education, dialogue, and shared language around professional behavior. Participation in this community town hall reflects ISMTE’s commitment to listening, learning, and collaborating with peer organizations to better understand how bullying manifests across the scholarly publishing ecosystem and how the community can collectively respond.

ISMTE views this conversation as part of an ongoing effort. Building on its existing governance frameworks, the Society is committed to exploring additional resources, guidance, and educational initiatives that support editors and reinforce a culture of respect across scholarly publishing. Creating safe and supportive professional communities is a shared responsibility, and one that ISMTE is committed to advancing alongside its members and partner organizations.