At the Trailhead

• Why this matters: Editors are expected to uphold scholarly standards, ensure research integrity, and guide the intellectual direction of a journal, but their authority within the publishing system is often misunderstood.
• What judgment this supports: The editor occupies a position of delegated academic authority within a broader publishing system. Fluid or “fuzzy” boundaries can lead to confusion or even disputes over the balance between scholarly and commercial priorities.
• How an editor might use this: Editors will understand where their authority lies within a broader publishing system.