Guidelines for Editor-in-Chief and Editorial Board
The Editor-in-Chief and members of the Editorial Board are fundamental to the operations and integrity of the International Journal for Public Policy, Law and Development (IJPLD). Their roles encompass overseeing the peer-review process, making critical decisions on manuscript acceptance, and shaping the strategic direction of the journal. This section provides detailed guidelines on the expectations and responsibilities for these key positions, emphasizing the importance of professionalism, confidentiality, transparency, and conflict of interest management.
Roles and Responsibilities:
- Editor-in-Chief:
- Peer-Review Oversight: The Editor-in-Chief is responsible for overseeing the peer-review process, ensuring that it is conducted fairly, rigorously, and in a timely manner. This includes selecting appropriate reviewers, managing review assignments, and addressing any issues that arise during the review process.
- Decision Making: The Editor-in-Chief has the final authority on manuscript acceptance or rejection. This decision is based on the recommendations from reviewers, the manuscript’s adherence to the journal’s standards, and its contribution to the field.
- Strategic Direction: The Editor-in-Chief guides the strategic direction of the journal, including decisions related to editorial policies, scope, and overall vision. This involves working with the Editorial Board to set long-term goals and priorities for the journal.
- Editorial Board Members:
- Reviewer Selection: Editorial Board members assist in identifying and recruiting qualified reviewers for submitted manuscripts. They should ensure that reviewers have the appropriate expertise and maintain impartiality.
- Review Process Support: Board members may provide guidance and support throughout the review process, including evaluating reviewer feedback and recommending further actions to the Editor-in-Chief.
- Editorial Contribution: Editorial Board members contribute to shaping the journal’s content and policies, including suggesting special issues, themes, and potential areas for development.
- Professionalism:
- Ethical Standards: The Editor-in-Chief and Editorial Board members are expected to adhere to the highest ethical standards. This includes acting with integrity, fairness, and impartiality in all editorial decisions and interactions.
- Confidentiality: Confidentiality is paramount in the editorial process. Editors must ensure that all manuscript-related information is kept confidential, including the content of submissions, reviewer comments, and the status of manuscripts.
- Transparency: Transparency in decision-making is crucial. Editors should provide clear, well-documented reasons for their decisions on manuscripts and ensure that the process is transparent to authors and reviewers.
- Conflict of Interest:
- Disclosure: Editors must disclose any conflicts of interest that could influence their editorial decisions. This includes financial, personal, or professional interests that may bias their judgment.
- Management: In cases where a conflict of interest is identified, the Editor-in-Chief or relevant Board member should recuse themselves from decisions related to the manuscript in question. Alternative editorial members or processes should be used to handle the review and decision-making.
- Commitment to Quality:
- Continuous Improvement: Editors are responsible for continually seeking ways to improve the journal’s editorial practices and overall quality. This may involve staying updated with developments in the field, adopting new technologies, and enhancing review processes.
- Training and Development: Editors should engage in ongoing professional development to stay current with best practices in scholarly publishing and peer review.