Journal editors hold critical responsibilities toward authors, peer reviewers, readers, and the broader scientific community. They are entrusted with upholding and enhancing the journal's standards by overseeing a rigorous and transparent peer review process that ensures the quality and integrity of published work.
A key role of the editor is to identify and assign suitable reviewers who possess expertise in the specific subject area of the submitted manuscript. Editors must first assess whether a submission aligns with the journal’s scope. Once deemed appropriate, the manuscript is typically reviewed by at least two independent experts, along with a handling editor. The editorial decision is informed by these reviews, though the editor’s final judgment is conclusive.
Ultimately, editors are responsible for making a final decision based on the manuscript’s novelty, scientific merit, and overall quality. The acceptance or rejection of a manuscript is determined by both the reviewers’ recommendations and the editor’s critical evaluation.
Guidelines
Editorial Independence: Ensure unbiased and fair manuscript evaluation based on academic merit, regardless of authors' affiliations or backgrounds.
Peer Review Oversight: Manage a rigorous, transparent peer review process. Assign qualified reviewers and ensure timely decisions.
Ethical Standards: Uphold publishing ethics (COPE guidelines), address plagiarism, data falsification, and conflicts of interest promptly.
Open Access Policy: Support unrestricted access to published content. Ensure authors retain copyright and articles are licensed appropriately (e.g., CC BY).
Confidentiality: Maintain confidentiality of submissions and reviewer identities throughout the process.
Continuous Improvement: Regularly evaluate journal practices and stay updated with best practices in scholarly publishing.
