Journal of Extension Update

Luann Boyer,   NEAFCS Representative to JOE Board

The Journal of Extension is celebrating its 50^th Anniversary in 2013.   The first issue of the Journal was published in the spring of 1963.   Originally it was published 4 times a year – spring, summer, fall and winter.  Twelve years later it was expanded to 6 issues; then 10 years later back to 4 issues.   In 1994, the Journal went exclusively to web based and since that time there have been 6 issues each year.  At the most recent Board of Directors meeting in March, a new tag line was approved:  Sharing Knowledge, Enriching Extension.

The Journal is archived on http://www.joe.org/journal-archive.phpw. For those who like history and sociology, you’ll enjoy viewing the early publications to see the social and economic issues which Extension professionals were facing and how they were implementing new methods for providing education.  Some things are quite different from today, but some have a recurring theme.   One feature article in the inaugural issue was  Rural Families and the Mass Media  on how to effectively market Extension education using newspapers, radio and television.  Extension educators are still learning how to use new media methods to provide education, only now it's Facebook, Twitter and the next emerging technology.

The Journal originally was feature articles and research reports.  Over the years two new categories for submission were added – Ideas that Work and Tools of the Trade.  Both of these sections are very popular with the readers.   These also provide an avenue for those new to writing for a refereed publication the opportunity to get their “feet wet”.

Submitting feature articles or research is not only for those who conduct research or are campus based specialists.  The Journal is available for anyone to submit.  You’ll notice many submissions have joint authors reporting on educational projects or programs.   The website has great information on Guidelines for Submission.  While it is a rigorous, refereed journal with an average acceptance rate of 27%,  Editor Laura Holescher is a diligent mentor in helping beginning scholars.

The Journal is also seeking reviewers who not only have depth of subject matter, but also breadth with the ability to review a variety of topics.   We especially need additional reviewers who have a broad Family and  Consumer Sciences expertise.   Guidelines for Reviewers can also be found under the Guidelines Tab on the Home Page.   To learn more about the Journal, go to www.JOE.org.

As the NEAFCS representative to the JOE Board, I am always available to answer any questions you might have.  One of my goals as your rep is to increase the awareness of the Journal and to increase submissions by Family and Consumer Sciences Extension educators.    Email me at [email protected] or call 970-542-3544.