The Conference of Latin American Geography (CLAG) is the premier organization for geographers engaging in research in Latin America and the Caribbean.  The purpose of this group is to foster research, education, and service related to Latin American geographical studies.  CLAG has published various books, proceedings, and special publications, as well as its flagship journal, Journal of Latin American Geography (JLAG).  This is the only geographic publication dedicated to research in Latin America and the Caribbean.

CLAG owns and publishes JLAG in collaboration with Louisiana State University and the University of Texas Press.  The main tasks associated with this journal are completed by CLAG including accepting and reviewing submissions, editing and proofing.  This is time-consuming work but the membership of CLAG believe that it is worth doing and doing well. CLAG’s dedication to a high-quality journal is reflected in every issue, which contains peer-reviewed articles on various aspects of human and physical geography of Latin America.  Each issue also features shorter essays on current events and book reviews.

JLAG is truly international as its authors come from North America, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean and its readership is global.  Because of this unique aspect of the journal, articles and abstracts are published in several different languages including English, Spanish, and/or Portuguese.  In 2017 the digital edition of JLAG logged nearly 29,0000 article views on Project MUSE alone with over 20,000 views of older articles through JSTOR and other resource outlets.

CLAG receives revenues from the journal (both print and digital versions) and a large portion of these proceeds are used for travel and research grants to support graduate students working in Latin America.  The biennial international conference hosted by CLAG also receives support from the JLAG proceeds to help offset costs.  In 2018, for the first time, CLAG collaborated with AAG’s Latin American Specialty Group to sponsor the noted Cuban agroecologist Fernando Funes Monzote as the inaugural “Annual JLAG Lecture” at the AAG Annual Meeting.

JLAG is one of the highest-ranking journals that focuses on Latin American studies.  Google Scholar ranked it sixth among these journals with an h-5 score of 11, placing it higher than other notable journals such as HAHR: Hispanic American Historical Review, and journals that are published by larger, multidisciplinary organizations such as Latin American Research Review.

In sum, CLAG’s dedication and stewardship of JLAG has established it as a premier journal of Latin American studies.  The publication is of high quality and internationally known.  The revenues generated by this publication are used to support student research and travel as well as other quality endeavors that advance CLAG’s mission.

It is for these reasons that CLAG is being awarded the 2019 AAG Publication Award.

see more at: http://news.aag.org/2018/12/aag-is-proud-to-announce-the-2019-aag-honors/