Issues of inclusivity, representativeness and diversity in activities of the American Sociological Association are considered regularly. Nowhere are these issues more central than in scholarly publication. For example, in the ASA Council Meeting of January 1996, the Publications Committee was asked to examine the inclusivity of the discipline's flagship journal, the American Sociological Review, and recommend procedures to enhance a broader representation of work (see July/August 1996 Issue of Footnotes, "Discussion of Diversity and Inclusivity in ASR"). A report with recommendations was presented to Council and changes were made (see below).

The current effort continues these concerns. The creation of the Task force on Journal Diversity in 2000 occurred as a result of a recommendation of then ASA President Joe Feagin with the full support of ASA Council. This recommendation followed a controversy in the appointment of editors of the American Sociological Review. That controversy raised a series of concerns about representation of diversity in ASA leadership roles, the orientation and openness of the Association and its journals, and procedures between various committees of the ASA (see September/October and November 1999 issues of Footnotes) for detailed discussions from various committees and individuals. The Task Force was not asked to deal with specific or general procedural issues around that controversy. Rather, the mandate to the Task Force was to examine issues of diversity, broadly defined, in all ASA journals. The Task Force was expected to prepare a report on findings and recommendations for consideration by the Committee on Publications. Upon approval, the report would be sent to Council. This report is the result of the efforts of the Task Force operating under this mandate.