Understand the context
Journal scope, editorial leadership, ownership, current publishing arrangement, audience, published record and the reasons a future arrangement is being considered.
Journal opportunities
A considered next chapter for your journal.
For journal owners, publishers, societies and institutions considering a transition, stewardship arrangement or a new long-term publishing home.
Private first discussion
The opportunity is more than a transaction.
A journal’s editorial relationships, published record, systems, policies and reputation all need to be understood before a future arrangement is considered. Harrowell provides a structured, discreet way to explore the context and the practical route ahead.
We can begin with a high-level conversation, agree confidentiality where needed, and then assess the scholarly, operational and technical considerations together.
Discuss an opportunity →How an opportunity is explored
A discreet process before detailed information moves.
Agree what may be shared
Confirm the authorised contact, any confidentiality requirement, the intended purpose of the discussion and what information may be disclosed to a potential partner or specialist.
Plan responsibly
Create a practical transition, stewardship or introduction route with clear next steps, accountabilities and protection for the journal’s scholarly and operational continuity.
Introductions and mediation
A route to the right discussion.
Where an owner wants to explore a future publishing relationship, Harrowell can help prepare the opportunity, identify the operating questions that need answers and facilitate a considered introduction. The purpose is to help the right parties assess fit before detailed due diligence begins.
Any introduction, commercial discussion, acquisition, transition or representation arrangement remains subject to separate agreement between the relevant parties. Harrowell does not circulate confidential journal information without authority from an authorised representative.
Read confidentiality and data handling →What helps a first conversation
Enough context to assess the route—without asking for sensitive records too early.
The journal and its purpose
The subject area, audience, current publication model, journal history and the scholarly community it serves.
The people involved
The owner, authorised representatives, editorial leadership and other stakeholders who need to be considered.
The current operating position
The existing publisher or suppliers, platform, workflow, publishing schedule and any immediate dependencies.
The intended outcome
Whether the discussion concerns a transition, ongoing stewardship, a publishing introduction or a defined improvement project.
Transition readiness
The practical records that protect continuity.
If a discussion develops into a formal transition, the journal’s published record and community should be treated as connected assets—not just a website to be moved.
Published content and access
Article and issue files, landing pages, backfiles, archive arrangements, URLs and access expectations need a documented route before a transfer is implemented.
Identity and metadata
Journal titles, ISSNs, DOIs, issue history, author records, licences, corrections and metadata feeds should be inventoried so that the scholarly record remains coherent after a change.
Editorial and operational continuity
Active submissions, reviewer and editor communication, production schedules, policies, user roles and supplier dependencies need an agreed handover and a clear point of operational ownership.
A clear boundary
A first conversation is exploratory, not a public listing or a promise of an outcome.
Harrowell can help make a journal opportunity intelligible and manageable. Any formal publishing, representation, transition or commercial arrangement is considered only with the authority of the relevant parties and documented through separate terms.
Start a confidential discussion →