The development of internationally influential scientific, technical, and medical (STM) journals that align with China’s technological advancement depends fundamentally on establishing an editorial team with a “craftsmanship spirit.” An analysis of the contemporary connotations of craftsmanship spirit in the context of STM journals reveals its dual essence: A pursuit of values and professional competence. Social cognitive theory, particularly its triadic reciprocal determinism provides a valuable perspective for understanding the interactions between individual factors (such as self-efficacy and values), environmental factors (institutional frameworks, cultural context, and physical infrastructure), and behavioral outcomes (experience and practice). In the cognitive dimension (individual factors), value pursuit manifests through editors' role as scientific gatekeepers and their professional dedication, while professional competence requires self-efficacy-driven knowledge iteration and skill enhancement, forming a dynamic mechanism where value orientation and capability development mutually reinforce each other. The behavioral dimension demonstrates value pursuit through standardized operating systems and cultural construction, with professional competence reflected in lean practices such as technological integration and continuous learning, extending value through technical behaviors. In the environmental interaction dimension (environmental factors), value pursuit requires editors to uphold academic missions amid institutional reforms and integrate resources to build academic communities; meanwhile, professional competence necessitates addressing emerging challenges like open science and intelligent publishing. This involves constructing a "technology-content-service" system, deeply embedding emerging technologies like artificial intelligence and big data into the entire publishing process to achieve innovative breakthroughs. Based on social cognitive theory and combined with the key elements of building world-class scientific journals in China, this paper explores the new requirements of high-quality development for editors’ craftsmanship spirit. These are reflected mainly in three dimensions: Cognitive upgrading—redefining the editor’s role in alignment with national strategy; behavioral enhancement—acquiring and applying interdisciplinary knowledge; and environmental adaptation— publishing innovation in the context of technological evolution. Editors must closely integrate their work with national strategic priorities, ensuring that journal content supports both national objectives and guides the development of disciplinary research. It is essential for editors to construct a system for learning and applying cross-disciplinary knowledge, relying on an interactive “editing-learning-research” mechanism to enable continuous renewal of their knowledge structures. Taking the publishing practice of Science and Technology Review Pubblishing House as an example, this paper proposes that the main approaches for STM journal editors to practice craftsmanship spirit for high-quality development include: Deepening understanding of national strategies while building a quality assurance system; establishing a dynamic knowledge updating system to enhance academic services; and innovating publishing models to promote the transformation and upgrading of journals. In conclusion, the craftsmanship spirit, characterized by strong value commitment and professional excellence, remains fundamental to the high-quality development of China’s STM journals.