AustLit

'TEXT editors work closely with referees. We are deeply aware that referees do this work for the sake of their discipline and outside of their normal workloads. Each article published in TEXT is reviewed by at least two referees, and sometimes by as many as four if the re-writing is extensive and prolonged. It can be a painful experience for some writers to find their research put under the kind of scrutiny that is not possible to expect from friends and colleagues. We feel responsibility for not wasting referees’ time by sending on to them articles that have such fundamental flaws that little expertise is needed to point out the inadequacies of the submission. The editor’s role in these instances is one of gate-keeping, an uncomfortable position, but one that is part of the larger vision of keeping TEXT to the highest standards possible. TEXT is a journal particularly concerned to mentor and support both new and experienced researchers in the field.' (Editorial introduction)