Close but tactful and constructive attention to detail, style, and syntax: Describe your practices as a scholarly editor or mentor of student writing.
Enthusiasm for the importance of scholarly reviews and willingness to hold reviewers to high standards: Would you be comfortable in commissioning and editing reviews by, or of works by, the most prominent scholars in your field?
Ability and willingness to keep up to date with the subject literature: Which conferences do you attend regularly? Are you a regular consumer of reviews in scholarly journals? Which journals?
Willingess to develop an efficient system for tracking books requested and received, reviews, and reviewers: Do you have office management experience? How would you envision such a system?
In general, to qualify as a review editor for an H-Net network, an applicant should possess a Ph.D. or a terminal degree in a relevant field, or equivalent professional experience and should have experience writing reviews. Publishing and editing experience are also desirable. Network advisory boards should carefully vet applications before submitting them to the Vice-President for Research and Publications. When a network advisory board feels that a candidate fits the profile above, they should make their case in writing to the VPRP. If a candidate does not specifically fit the standard criteria mentioned above, the advisory board should take particular care to explain why that individual would, nonetheless, represent a suitable candidate to be a review editor for their network.
Any successful applicant will be expected to demonstrate enthusiasm for the importance of scholarly reviews and a willingness to hold reviewers to high standards; an ability and willingness to keep up to date with the subject literature; a close but tactful and constructive attention to detail, style, and syntax; and a willingness to develop an efficient system for tracking books requested and received, reviews, and reviewers. Successful applicants should have (or be willing to acquire) a working knowledge of both the H-Net Reviews Style Sheet and the Chicago Manual of Style, and should be willing to abide by H-Net Reviews rules and procedures.
In consultation with the Publications Committee as necessary, the VPRP may request further information on an applicant's bona fides, may consult with network advisory boards in order to work towards best meeting their reviewing needs, and may ultimately decline to advance a candidate for H-Net Council approval.
Approved by H-Net Council, June 2007