"My advice for early career researchers: once you've written a manuscript, ask friends and colleagues, particularly those outside your field, to have a look at it." Editor-in-Chief, Alistair Hetherington, talks about his role at the journal, what makes a great paper, why you should submit your manuscript to New Phytologist, and some tips for early career researchers. http://www.newphytologist.com Recorded at the 38th New Phytologist Symposium: Colonization of the terrestrial environment by Leeds Media, July 2016.