Journal partnerships
A responsible future for scholarly journals.
Harrowell partners with journal owners, publishers, societies and institutions to transition, manage and develop scholarly journals with continuity, clarity and long-term purpose.
A partnership, not a handoff
We look after the full context of a journal.
A journal has editorial relationships, a publishing record, workflows, systems, contributor expectations and a scholarly reputation. Any new partnership or operating transition needs to respect all of them.
Harrowell brings together transition planning, operational delivery, technology, data and governance so journals can move forward without losing the continuity that authors, editors, reviewers and readers rely on.
Partnership continuity
One journal. A connected foundation for what comes next.
A new publishing partnership has to protect the journal’s identity while making its operation more capable. Harrowell connects the layers that make that possible.
Continuity framework
Journal-centred01 / Purpose
Scholarly identity and governance
Scope, editorial independence, board roles, policies and the published record.
02 / Delivery
Editorial and publishing operation
Peer review, production, author communication, service ownership and reporting.
03 / Continuity
Data, technology and development
Platform capability, metadata, access, archives and planned improvement.
Visibility and control
A partnership should make the operation easier to govern.
The purpose is not to take editorial authority away from a journal. It is to make responsibilities, performance and decisions visible to the people accountable for the publishing programme.
An agreed responsibility map
Clear separation between owner, editorial board, Harrowell and any existing supplier responsibilities—especially at editorial, technical and financial decision points.
A usable service rhythm
Working meetings, delivery updates, issue and risk tracking, escalation routes and review points proportionate to the journal and engagement.
Operational evidence
Information that shows what is moving through the operation, where capacity or dependency risks sit, and which decisions need client or editorial direction.
Planned development
A structured view of improvements to workflows, metadata, platform capability, policies and continuity—not change for its own sake.
Partnership models
Built around the next stage of your journal.
Journal acquisition and transition
For journal owners and organisations exploring a new publishing home, Harrowell provides a structured route from initial assessment through transition planning, implementation and post-transition stabilisation.
Explore partnership →Journal stewardship
For established titles that need dependable long-term management, we coordinate editorial, production, metadata, technology and development activity through one accountable operating relationship.
Explore partnership →Society and institutional partnerships
We work with scholarly societies and institutions to establish publishing arrangements that respect governance, editorial independence and the distinct purpose of each journal.
Explore partnership →Portfolio development
For multiple-title programmes, we create shared structures for service delivery, technology, reporting and planned investment while preserving individual journal identity.
Explore partnership →Transition discipline
Continuity is designed into the process.
We begin with a clear understanding of the journal, its stakeholders, its published record and its operational dependencies. This creates a practical basis for planning a partnership, transition or managed-service arrangement.
Where a journal is moving into a new publishing environment, we coordinate editorial communication, workflow handover, content and metadata continuity, technology readiness and post-transition review. The aim is a stable experience for the journal community and a stronger operating foundation for what comes next.
What a partnership can cover
The operating detail behind a stable publishing relationship.
The right scope depends on the journal. A Harrowell partnership can bring together the workstreams below, while fitting around existing editorial authority, suppliers and institutional processes.
Editorial purpose and governance
Support for journal scope, boards, editorial roles, peer-review expectations, policy frameworks and the decision routes that protect scholarly independence.
Operational delivery
Editorial-office administration, production coordination, author and reviewer communication, quality controls, service visibility and active issue management.
Technology and information
Platform readiness, OJS/PKP implementation or migration, metadata quality, integrations, reporting, content records and continuity planning.
Development and review
Shared priorities, regular review, capacity planning, workflow improvement and evidence-led decisions about the journal’s next stage.
How we begin
Start with the current position, not a fixed package.
The first discussion establishes the journal’s ownership and governance context, its operating needs, the people who need to be involved and the outcome the organisation is seeking. It also makes clear what remains with the client, the editorial team and other suppliers.
Where a partnership is appropriate, Harrowell develops a defined scope covering responsibilities, service rhythm, information needs, implementation steps and review points. This creates a practical route from an initial decision to a stable service relationship.
Discuss a journal opportunity
Explore a publishing partnership with the right level of care and structure.
Whether you are considering a transition, seeking long-term management or developing a portfolio, Harrowell can help shape the practical next step.
Start a conversation →