Beckford was the editor of Current Sociology from 1980 to 1987, the Vice-President for Publications of the International Sociological Association from 1994 to 1998, and has been a member of the editorial board of the British Journal of Sociology since 1998.
Beckford foi editor de Current Sociology (1980-1987), vicepresidente de publicacións da International Sociological Association (1994-1998) e membro do consello editorial do British Journal of Sociology desde 1998.