Developing author guidelines
Author guidelines are an expression of the journal’s editorial policy and workflow and should be presented transparently. Prior to submitting their manuscripts, authors typically check author guidelines, so these should leave little to no questions left. Author guidelines are also used by journal staff and the editorial board to check that submitted papers are compliant. […]
Software and technical infrastructure
Many open access journals run on open source software. This software is freely available online and needs to be installed on a suitable server to be run. Examples of leading solutions to manage open access journals and the article submission system include the Open Journal Systems, Kotahi and Janeway. These solutions can also help with […]
Article selection criteria
One of the key responsibilities of editorial board members is to define article selection criteria. These criteria may change over time depending on the editors’ research interests, social or cultural changes in the publishing landscape, emerging guidelines as well as new discoveries. The journal should keep article selection criteria up to date and present them […]
Publication ethics and related editorial policies
Editorial policies are essential for maintaining the quality, integrity and credibility of academic journals. They provide guidelines for authors, reviewers and editors to ensure that the publication process is consistent, transparent and fair. It is the duty of editors and publishers to preserve the integrity of their journals: they must clearly communicate editorial policies and […]
Building and maintaining a profile
Academic journals need to build and manage their profile in order to attract submissions from reputable researchers as well as to appear credible to readers. Having a strong profile helps academic journals establish authority in their field, which can lead to increased readership and impact. An effective profile can help journals differentiate themselves from competitors, […]
Scope, aims and focus
Clearly outlining a journal’s scope and aims enables readers to swiftly grasp its relevance and ensures prospective authors submit pertinent manuscripts. This streamlines the process, saving time and effort for both authors and the journal’s managers. Key components of a scope and aims statement Typically, online journals have a dedicated ‘Scope’ or ‘Aims & Scope’ […]
Roles and responsibilities
Every journal is different, but a full editorial team can comprise an editor-in-chief, an associate editor, journal manager and an editorial board, plus occasional guest editors for special issues. It is likely that, in some journals, various roles (e.g., technical editor, journal manager, etc.) may all be performed by the editor-in-chief; other journals may have […]
Journal and article indexing
When journals are started, registering for an ISSN (International Standard Serial Number) is one of the first steps. An ISSN is a persistent identifier for each title and can be obtained free of charge from the ISSN International Centre. Using ISSNs offers a reliable way to distinguish one journal from another as well as identifying […]
Recruiting journal staff
Trying to build a strong journal team and editorial board is a complex challenge. Successful journals develop recruitment strategies that are tailored to their specific needs and growth targets and review this on a regular basis. Recruitment in journals is not dissimilar to other organisations, but care must be taken in covering the broad range […]
Journal appearance and web design
A journal’s website, called the front-end, is where authors and readers will make first contact. It is important to make sure that the website is carefully curated to convey a chosen set of messages. Importantly, journals may be bound by institutional requirements (e.g. if the journal is hosted by the institution) and might need to […]
