Guidelines for Editors at SPJ Publication

Introduction: SPJ Publication is dedicated to providing high-quality, peer-reviewed, open-access scholarly content. As an editor at SPJ Publication, you play a crucial role in maintaining the integrity, rigour, and transparency of the editorial process. This document outlines the expectations and responsibilities of our editorial team, ensuring that we uphold the highest standards of academic publishing and contribute to the growth of open-access research.

Roles and Responsibilities: Editors are responsible for overseeing the editorial process, from manuscript submission to publication. Your key duties include ensuring quality, fairness, and consistency throughout the peer-review process. Below are the detailed responsibilities:

1. Editorial Oversight:

   • Manage Submissions: Assess the suitability of submitted manuscripts for peer review based on their relevance, quality, and adherence to journal scope and guidelines.
   • Decision Making: Make final editorial decisions, including acceptance, rejection, or the need for revisions based on peer reviews and your own assessment.
   • Conflict Resolution: Address any conflicts between authors, reviewers, or other editorial members in a fair and impartial manner.
   • Quality Control: Ensure that all content adheres to the highest academic standards and complies with SPJ Publication’s editorial policies.

2. Peer Review Process:

   • Assigning Reviewers: Select appropriate independent experts to review manuscripts. Ensure that the reviewers have no conflicts of interest and possess the necessary expertise to evaluate the manuscript.
   • Manage Peer Review: Oversee the peer-review process, ensuring that reviewers provide constructive feedback and that the process is completed in a timely manner.
   • Monitor Review Timeliness: Maintain the schedule for manuscript evaluations and ensure timely feedback from reviewers, typically within a 2-3 week period.
   • Ensure Integrity: Verify that all reviews are honest, unbiased, and based on scientific evidence. Flag any potential instances of misconduct.

3. Manuscript Evaluation:

   • Editorial Pre-Check: Conduct a thorough review of the manuscript to ensure it adheres to submission guidelines before it moves to peer review. This includes checking for formatting, plagiarism, and overall presentation.
   • Review Recommendations: Evaluate the feedback from reviewers and make final decisions on the manuscript. Ensure that authors are provided with clear instructions on required revisions.
   • Final Decision: After reviewing the peer reviews and any revisions made, make the final decision whether to accept, request revisions, or reject the manuscript.

4. Communication with Authors and Reviewers:

   • Timely Communication: Ensure that authors receive prompt communication regarding the status of their submission and decisions made. Provide clear instructions for any revisions or resubmission.
   • Maintain Professionalism: Engage in respectful and professional communication with both authors and reviewers, ensuring that all interactions uphold the ethical standards of SPJ Publication.
   • Support Authors: Offer guidance to authors during the revision process, helping them improve their manuscripts while maintaining the journal’s academic standards.

5. Ethical Standards and Integrity:

   • Plagiarism and Ethical Violations: Monitor and ensure that all content submitted to the journal adheres to ethical standards. If plagiarism, data fabrication, or other ethical violations are suspected, take appropriate action in accordance with SPJ Publication’s policies.
   • Confidentiality: Maintain confidentiality throughout the editorial process. Do not disclose the identities of authors or reviewers, or share any manuscript details outside of the editorial process.
   • Conflict of Interest: Disclose and avoid conflicts of interest, whether financial, personal, or professional, when making editorial decisions. If a conflict arises, recuse yourself from making decisions on the manuscript.

6. Continuous Improvement and Training:

   • Stay Informed: Keep up to date with the latest developments in academic publishing, peer review practices, and ethical guidelines to enhance the editorial process.
   • Professional Development: Participate in training programs and workshops organized by SPJ Publication to continuously improve your editorial skills.

7. Supporting Open Access:

   • Promote Open Access: Support SPJ Publication’s mission to make research freely available to all by advocating for open access publishing and its benefits to authors, readers, and the broader academic community.
   • Reviewing APC Waivers: Work with the editorial team to ensure that no Article Processing Charges (APC) are levied on authors, maintaining our commitment to free publication.

Final Decision Making: Editors have the ultimate responsibility for making the final decision on manuscripts. The possible decisions include:

• Accept in Present Form: The manuscript is ready for publication without any changes.
• Accept after Minor Revisions: The manuscript requires minor revisions, typically within a 5-day time frame.
• Reconsider after Major Revisions: The manuscript requires substantial revisions and may go through another round of peer review.
• Reject and Encourage Resubmission: The manuscript is rejected but can be resubmitted after significant changes.
• Reject: The manuscript is not suitable for publication due to significant flaws or lack of originality.

Editorial Ethics and Confidentiality: Editors must maintain confidentiality throughout the editorial process. Manuscript contents should not be disclosed to third parties, and any personal data must be handled in compliance with data protection laws.

As an editor at SPJ Publication, your role is vital in ensuring the publication of high-quality, scholarly content. By following these guidelines, you contribute to upholding the integrity, transparency, and academic standards of our open-access journals. We appreciate your commitment to maintaining a rigorous editorial process and advancing the scholarly mission of SPJ Publication.