Bullying and harassment, whether overt or subtle, have no place in scholarly publishing. Yet many professionals across editorial offices, publishing organizations, and volunteer‑driven societies still encounter behaviors that undermine psychological safety, limit inclusion, and erode trust. In this recorded Town Hall, leaders from four major organizations—the Society for Scholarly Publishing (SSP), the International Society of Medical Publication Professionals (ISMPP), the International Society of Technical and Medical Editors (ISTME), and the Council of Science Editors (CSE)—come together for an open, solutions‑focused conversation on how our community can address these challenges with clarity, compassion, and shared purpose. The discussion explores what bullying looks like across professional settings, including social media and other digital communication spaces, workplaces, volunteer committees, conferences, and other interactions, and why addressing it is essential to maintaining integrity, equity, and excellence in our field. Panelists focus on the policies, practices, and cultural commitments these organizations are putting in place to foster respectful engagement and to support individuals who experience inappropriate behavior. Viewers will gain insight into constructive conflict resolution, bystander intervention, and leadership strategies that promote healthier team and community dynamics. The conversation also highlights opportunities for collaboration across societies to establish shared expectations for conduct and to strengthen accountability across the publishing ecosystem. This session offers practical tools and a united message: creating a safe and welcoming environment is everyone's responsibility—and it is achievable when we work together. This discussion will explore what bullying looks like across professional settings, including social media and other digital communication spaces, workplaces, volunteer committees, conferences, and other interactions, and why addressing it is essential to maintaining integrity, equity, and excellence in our community. Conversation will focus on the policies, practices, and cultural commitments these organizations are putting in place to foster respectful engagement and to support individuals who experience inappropriate behavior. Attendees will gain insight into constructive conflict resolution, bystander intervention, and leadership strategies that promote healthier team and community dynamics. The webinar will also highlight opportunities for collaboration across societies to establish shared expectations for conduct and to strengthen accountability across the publishing ecosystem. This session will provide practical tools and a united message for everyone: creating a safe and welcoming environment is everyone’s responsibility, and it is achievable when we work together.

Join us for an enlightening webinar designed specifically for mid-career professionals in scholarly publishing who are looking to reinvigorate their career trajectory and make the most of their expertise. As you enter the next phase of your career, new challenges and opportunities arise. This webinar will provide you with invaluable insights, strategies, and tools to navigate this crucial phase with confidence and success. Key Topics: · Assessing your career trajectory and setting new goals · Leveraging your experience to take on leadership roles · Adapting to technological changes in scholarly publishing · Building and maintaining professional networks · Balancing work-life integration for long-term career satisfaction · Exploring new areas of specialization within scholarly publishing · Mentoring and knowledge transfer to the next generation Don't miss this opportunity to invest in your future and make the most of your valuable experience in scholarly publishing.

In the vast spectrum of leadership styles, one particular approach stands out for its emphasis on understanding and acknowledging diverse viewpoints. This style is characterized by its adaptability and flexibility. Leaders who embrace this approach actively engage in listening to gain insight and inspire others to follow suit. At the heart of this servant leadership style lies empathy. It’s an art form to convey to your team that you value them as individuals, all while maintaining a keen focus on the organization’s success. Studies suggest that empathy is a skill that can be honed and is beneficial to all. The practice of empathy entails understanding its cultivation, its influence on your team, and how to express it without seeming insincere or weak. Displaying and practicing empathy is a testament to your respect for your team, a defining trait of dedicated leaders. We cordially invite you to join us as we engage with a panel of esteemed leaders. They will share their insights on how they integrate empathy into their staff’s skill set, drive change, and foster a culture of empathy within their teams.

Just as new directions in leadership have changed the way organizations have thought about their activities, cultures, and policies, new directions in data have done the same. While many organizations have used data to track the success of usage, sales, and other activities, this panel will outline some actionable ways to blend quantitative and qualitative data to foster innovation. In this session, our panelists will discuss the ways organizations can use internal data to improve workflows and staff experience, how we can use data to better inform the impact of our outputs and activities, and how data can help us understand our stakeholders’ decision-making process and motivations.

SSP President Heather Staines, President-Elect Rebecca McLeod, and Board Member At-Large Mike DiNatale presented and reviewed the SSP’s strategic priorities for the coming years. These priorities are the culmination of a year-long strategic planning process involving collaboration among board members, committee chairs, staff, and insights from the recent membership survey.