No more ‘manels’ for Lancet journal editors

The editors of the Lancet journals write in a new commentary that they are no longer going to appear on all-male panels, or “manels.” They also pledged their commitment to representing more women and people from low- and middle-income countries in the articles that are published across the 18 Lancet journals. Earlier this year, the journals committed to having at least 50% of each publication’s editorial board be women. Eight have already done so, and the rest plan to do so by the end of 2019. “[W]e are committed to be the change we want to see, and to playing our part in helping create diversity and inclusion in health research and publishing,” the editors write. The move comes as many — including NIH Director Francis Collins — have criticized ‘‘manels” and the lack of gender parity in academia.