CONSTITUTION

  1. NAME: The name of the Society is ESPRit: European Society for Periodical Research.
  2. CONSTITUTION: All activities performed in the name of ESPRit by its members must be in accordance with its Constitution.
  3. PURPOSE: The aim of the Society is to unite the resources of individual scholars from various disciplines who work with periodicals and form an educational platform to help with the advancement of periodical research. Researchers throughout Europe find periodicals of their own and other nations indispensable resources for understanding such practices as the reception of literature, the segmentation of markets, shifts from reading of newspapers in public venues to domestic consumption of news, gender issues in reading, and the development of literary nationalisms. Although many of these scholars explore similar issues, they tend to work in isolation and lack a combined perspective. ESPRit aims to provide a platform for periodical researchers through its website, magazine, listserv, expert meetings and conferences. ESPRit takes an interdisciplinary approach and focuses on both English and non-English language periodicals. It transcends specific thematic interests, although the emphasis will be on European research. ESPRit is affiliated with various European and American research groups, such as the Society for the History of Authorship, Reading and Publishing (SHARP), the Research Society for American Periodicals (RSAP) and the Research Society for Victorian Periodicals (RSVP) to ensure a broadly international and transatlantic collaboration.
  4. MEMBERS: Any scholar related to periodical research can join ESPRit by signing up for the mailing list. ESPRit members can stay in contact through the website, which will keep track of current research in the field and serve as a medium to share research findings and material. The ESPRit Core Group will organize an annual international conference and / or expert meeting, during which members can define common topics in the field of periodical research and explore ways to publish together.
  5. ADMINISTRATIVE BOARD: ESPRit’s administrative board consists of a core group and an advisory board.
  6. OFFICIALS: As of November 2014 the ESPRit council consists of twelve members, of which seven reside in the Core Group and five in the Advisory Board. 
  7. OFFICERS: Each Core Group member is liable to perform certain functions, as agreed upon by the Core Group and Advisory Board. These functions may consist of such tasks as editorial work, organizing conferences, the management of the website, the writing of newsletters as well as any other necessary activities related to ESPRit. Furthermore, the Society can take on an intern and/or assistant, who is to help with its activities.
  8. REMOVAL AND VACANCIES: The Core Group can, with due consideration and an overall understanding, decide to remove any of the Society’s members at any given time. The removal and/or leaving of a board member resulting in a casual vacancy must be dealt with by members of the Core Group, whom should provide a desirable substitute.
  9. MEETINGS: ESPRit will hold a conference or expert meeting annually. This will take place at different locations each year, in agreement with the Core Group and Advisory Board. The annual meeting will, in great part, be organized by the Core Group member residing at its intended location. The Society will also be present – or represent itself through its members – at appropriate conferences and conventions in the form of contributing, collaborating and/or visiting.
  10. WEBSITE: The ESPRit website is the central organ of the Society. It will encompass announcements, a list of important members, newsletters, a constitution, a bibliography, research resources, as well as any other information related to European periodical research. Furthermore, the ESPRit website will serve as a direct link to its digital magazine.
  11. JOURNAL: JEPS, the Journal for European Periodical Studies, is ESPRit's electronic journal, published biannually. The aim of this journal is to offer a platform for periodical researchers on which they can publish and/or present their work. It will also serve to inform its readers of issues related to periodical research, such as publications, conferences, Calls for Papers, and so on and so forth. Papers are to be based on a solid formulation of a problem or research question, which is sytematically answered in a verifiable manner within the article. Papers/Articles will be reviewed by the editorial board firstly. This assessment can result in an acceptance, renouncement or temporary renouncement of the Paper/Article. If the Article/Paper is accepted for publishing, it will be reviewed and provided with critical remarks by a peer reviewer assigned by the editorial board.
  12. OPEN ACCESS PROTOCOL: All publications in the digital journal and on the website are openly accessible through the internet. ESPRit believes that by publishing articles and papers with open access, it can make scientific knowledge more accessible and easier to exchange, leading to better research results.
  13. NON-PROFIT CORPORATE STATUS OF THE SOCIETY: No part of the net earnings of the Society shall inure to the benefit of any private individual. Exemptions are compensations to be paid for services rendered for the Society affecting one or more of its purposes. Upon dissolution of the Society no member – regardless of his/her function – shall be  entitled to part of its revenue and/or corporate assets. These are to be entrusted to an academic institution, as approved by ESPRit’s board members. The Society shall not conduct or carry on any activity not permitted to be conducted or carried on by an organization exempt from taxation. No substantial part of ESPRit’s activities shall attempt to influence legislation, nor shall it take part in or propagate any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office.
  14. AMENDMENT OF THE CONSTITUTION: Minor alterations in the ESPRit constitution can be made in consultation with members of its core group. More significant amendments must be made in agreement with the entire Core Group and Advisory Board, at such occasions as the annual meeting.