Publishing giant Taylor & Francis has called for talks with editorial board members from one of its international journals, after they resigned in protest against the dismissal of the editor-in-chief.

An signed by 48 academics and experts who sat on the board of Building Research & Information labelled the publisher¡¯s decision to terminate the contract of Richard Lorch as an ¡°unethical betrayal¡± of the journal¡¯s community interests.

¡°[It] is deeply shocking and we strenuously disagree with this decision,¡± the letter states. ¡°We suggested maintaining Richard¡¯s contract to at least 2020 to support the delivery of papers and special issues for which he has already commenced planning.¡±

Associate editors said that they were unable to guarantee support to contributing authors and guest editors who have already committed to future issues.

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¡°As a result of Taylor & Francis¡¯ ill-considered decision and the manner?in which they?have conducted themselves, we are now resigning as members of the editorial team and board effective immediately,¡± the letter continues.

Previous correspondence sent to board members suggested that a rotating editorship was ¡°necessary to ensure the journal continues to evolve¡±.

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Mr Lorch has been in the?editor position?for 21 years, but was given notice to leave the role by December 2018. BRI board members claimed that his contract had ended ¡°solely on the criterion of length of time in office¡±, a decision that they said was ¡°arbitrary and discriminatory¡± when editors at sister titles had been able to keep their positions for 25 years or more.

Responding to the concerns, Leon Heward-Mills, global publishing director for Taylor & Francis journals, said that it had always been the group¡¯s intention to appoint a new editor-in-chief for the publication.

¡°The decision not to renew Richard Lorch¡¯s contract was not at any point based on his performance as an editor, which has been exemplary,¡± a statement read. ¡°It is based on our ambitions for the future of the journal and a strong desire to introduce new opportunities for others in the field to step into journal leadership roles.

¡°Such fixed-term agreements are a growing norm in journal publishing, providing opportunities for people to apply who would not otherwise be able to commit to an open-ended role.¡±

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Mr Lorch had been offered an emeritus editor role on the journal¡¯s editorial board, said Mr Heward-Mills. ¡°We hope he will accept this position, and that the board will take up our offer of meeting to discuss this in person,¡± he said.

rachael.pells@timeshighereducation.com