Responsibilities of journal editors towards authors

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RESPONSIBILITIES OF JOURNAL EDITORS TOWARDS
AUTHORS
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Why are journal editors so important?
They play a crucial role in the publication
process.
They are the single point of contact for authors
throughout the publication cycle.
Authors rely on them heavily.
They represent everything the journal stands for.
BUT
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Are journal editors and authors aligned?
Do authors know exactly what journal editors want?

• Do journal editors really understand
• the challenges authors face?

NO!
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Mismatch in perspectives of editors and authors

• A recent survey1 found that authors and journal
  editors
• DO NOT UNDERSTAND
• each others challenges and requirements.

• Heres an example
• One question in this survey was about the clarity
  of journal instructions. (The survey respondents
  included both authors and journal editors.)
• There were clear differences in the views of both
  groups.

From C. Cerejo. International journal editors and
East Asian authors two surveys. Learned
Publishing 27(1) 63-75.
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Are journal instructions easy to understand?
According to you, journal instructions are
Unclear but complete
Unclear and incomplete
Clear but incomplete
Clear and complete
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Authors versus journal editors

• Authors think
• They understand publication ethics and do the
  best they can to adhere to standard guidelines.
• They address and respond carefully to all peer
  reviewer comments.
• Journal instructions for authors are often
  incomplete and unclear.
• Journal systems and processes are inefficient.

• Editors think
• Authors dont realize the importance of
  publication ethics.
• Authors only address the peer reviewer comments
  they find agreeable.
• Authors dont follow journal instructions well.
• Journal systems and processes are
  author-friendly.

From C. Cerejo. International journal editors and
East Asian authors two surveys. Learned
Publishing 27(1) 63-75.
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How can journal editors bridge this gap?

• Journal editors can bridge this gap
• and help authors follow best publication
  practices by

1. Providing clear author guidelines
2. Setting up efficient and author-friendly journal
   processes
3. Communicating with authors clearly

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1. Providing clear author guidelines
2. Setting up efficient and author-friendly
   journal processes
3. Communicating with authors clearly

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Give authors easy access to clear journal
guidelines

• Before submitting a paper to a journal, authors
  always check the journals website for detailed
  author guidelines.

• Journal editors should ensure that authors
  have all the information they need on the
  journals website.
• This information should be clearly visible and
  accessible.

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What do clear guidelines include?

• Author guidelines for preparing and submitting
  manuscripts

Easy-to-access sample papers or formatting
templates
A clear statement of the journals policies on
authorship criteria
Details of publication costs or copyright terms,
if any
Policies on conflicts of interest for editors,
staff, authors, and reviewers
Best-practice guidelines for sharing experimental
materials and information to allow research
replication
An outline of the journal decision-making
process, including time to first decision, time
to publication, open access policy, if any, and
rejection rates
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1. Providing clear author guidelines
2. Setting up efficient and author-friendly
   journal processes
3. Communicating clearly with authors

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Journal processes are important

• Journal editors manage large submission volumes
• Smooth and efficient journal processes will help
  reduce the burden on both editors and authors.

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What do journal processes include?

• Automated workflow systems for smooth submission
  and
• manuscript status tracking

Format and process for pre-submission inquiries
System for effective and rapid peer review
Procedure for reconsidering editorial decisions
Process for handling ethical issues or
allegations or findings of misconduct
Mechanism to ensure timely publication of
accepted manuscripts
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1. Providing clear author guidelines
2. Setting up efficient and author-friendly
   journal processes
3. Communicating clearly with authors

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Why author communication is important

• It is a major part of a journal editors daily
  responsibilities.
• Authors attach great importance to everything a
  journal editor says.
• It is a journal editors duty to ensure that all
  communication with the author is clear, complete,
  and objective.

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What does clear communication include?

• Treating all authors with fairness, courtesy,
  objectivity, honesty,and transparency

Protecting the confidentiality of every authors
work
Transparently outlining the decision-making
process and all editorial policies for authors
Making editorial decisions with reasonable speed
and communicating them in a clear and
constructive manner
Being vigilant in avoiding the possibility of
editors and/or referees delaying a manuscript for
suspect reasons
Regularly reviewing instructions for authors
Regularly reviewing policies for handling ethical
issues and allegations or findings of misconduct
Helping authors identify essential and
non-essential changes in in peer review reports
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Benefits for authors and journal editors

• To sum it up, journal editors should
• This will benefit authors and journal editors!

1. Provide clear author guidelines
2. Set up efficient and author-friendly journal
   processes
3. Communicate with authors clearly

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How will authors benefit

• Having easy access to all essential information
  will increase authors confidence during journal
  submission.
• Authors will prepare a better submission
  package that adheres to all journal guidelines.
• Authors will know what is expected from them
  and will follow best publication practices.
• There will be lesser chances of authors
  misunderstanding journal editors.

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How will journal editors benefit

• The quality of submissions to their journal will
  improve!
• Cleaner journal processes will help editors
  reduce clutter and set up smoother submission
  cycles.
• Offline communication with authors will reduce,
  thereby reducing the burden on journal editors.
• By encouraging authors to follow best publication
  practices, editors will also be seen as advisors
  and thought leaders.

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Sources

• This content has been adapted from
• Editor roles and responsibilities, White Paper on
  Promoting Integrity in Scientific Journal
  Publications, Council of Science Editors, 2012
  Accessed September 4, 2015 Available from
  http//www.councilscienceeditors.org/resource-lib
  rary/editorial-policies/white-paper-on-publication
  -ethics/2-1-editor-roles-and-responsibilities/
• Bridging the gap between your journal and your
  authors, Workshop conducted by Clarinda Cerejo at
  The 2nd Asian Science Editors' Conference
  Workshop 2015, Available from http//asianeditor.
  org/event/2015/workshop2/Bridging20the20gap20be
  tween20your20journal20and20your20authors.pdf
  

Illustrations and Vectors from freepik.com
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Related reading

• You might also be interested in reading
• C. Cerejo. International journal editors and East
  Asian authors two surveys. Learned Publishing
  27(1) 63-75, Available from http//www.ingentacon
  nect.com/content/alpsp/lp/2014/00000027/00000001/a
  rt00010
• Top 10 mistakes authors make---As compiled by a
  committee of journal editors, Available from
  http//www.editage.com/insights/top-10-mistakes-au
  thors-make-as-compiled-by-a-committee-of-journal-e
  ditors

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