The editor-in-chief is David H. Kaplan (Kent State University).

In 1852, the American Geographical Society began publishing its first academic journal, the Bulletin [and Journal] of the American Geographical Society.

[4] Douglas McManis edited the journal from 1978 until 1995 and was credited with maintaining a legacy of high scholarly standards set by his predecessors.

The prize was given every three years to the author of the best article by an early-career scholar published in the most recent three volumes of the Geographic Review.

The prize is named for previous editors Gladys M. Wrigley and Wilma B. Fairchild who edited the journal for a combined 52 years.