Publishing Policy for Editors
- Purpose and Scope
In accordance with the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) Principles of Transparency and Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing and the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) criteria, this policy establishes clear rules governing the publication of manuscripts authored or co-authored by members of the editorial team.
The policy applies exclusively to the following article types:
- Articles (original research)
- Systematic Literature Reviews (SLRs)
The policy does not apply to the section Memory of a Scientific Event, which is governed by specific editorial criteria described in Section 7.
- Definition and Control of Editorial Endogeny
For the purposes of this policy, editorial endogeny refers to excessive overlap between the journal’s editorial governance (editors, editorial board members, and reviewers) and its authorship, which may compromise editorial independence, transparency, or the integrity of peer review.
To mitigate this risk and ensure compliance with DOAJ best practices, the journal adopts the following safeguard:
The proportion of published Articles and Systematic Literature Reviews in which at least one author is an editor, editorial board member, or reviewer of the journal must not exceed 25% in either of the two most recent issues.
This threshold applies cumulatively across all editorial roles and is monitored on a rolling basis.
- Limits on Individual Editor Publications
In addition to aggregate limits on endogeny, the journal establishes individual safeguards to prevent preferential treatment:
Editors with editorial or decision-making authority may publish no more than one Article or Systematic Literature Review per calendar year in the journal.
This limit applies to both sole-authored and co-authored submissions. Advisory board members who do not exercise editorial decision-making authority are subject to the aggregate endogeny threshold but not to the individual annual limit, unless they perform editorial functions.
- Editorial Independence and Manuscript Handling
Editors submitting Articles or Systematic Literature Reviews are strictly excluded from any involvement in the editorial handling, peer review, or decision-making process related to their submissions. Such manuscripts are assigned to an independent editor or, where appropriate, an external guest editor with no conflicts of interest, in full compliance with COPE requirements.
- Peer Review and Additional Safeguards
All Articles and Systematic Literature Reviews authored by editors undergo the same rigorous, impartial peer-review process as other submissions. Where concerns arise regarding impartiality, robustness, or perception of bias, the journal may commission additional independent peer reviews to safeguard scientific quality and ethical integrity.
- Transparency and Disclosure
All editor-authored Articles and Systematic Literature Reviews are clearly identified as such, and all relevant conflicts of interest, financial, institutional, or personal, are fully disclosed. Where appropriate, disclosures are published alongside the article.
- Exception: Memory of a Scientific Event
The Memory of a Scientific Event section is exempt from the endogeny limits and individual publication restrictions outlined in this policy. This exception is justified because:
- Submissions in this section are not new or original research, but extended, revised, or curated versions of studies previously presented and recognized at national or international scientific events;
- The FAST-TRACK format serves a documentary and dissemination function, rather than primary research publication;
- All submissions in this section remain subject to peer review and editorial oversight to ensure academic quality and ethical compliance.
Despite this exception, editors submitting to this section must still declare conflicts of interest and are excluded from editorial decision-making on their own submissions.
- Monitoring, Reporting, and Review
The journal periodically reviews and documents levels of editorial endogeny with respect to Articles and Systematic Literature Reviews and reports these data as part of its commitment to transparency. This policy is subject to regular review to ensure continued alignment with COPE and DOAJ standards and evolving best practices in scholarly publishing.
- Commitment to Editorial Integrity
Through the differentiated application of this policy across article types, the journal affirms its commitment to editorial independence, transparency, and ethical publishing. The participation of editors as authors is permitted only where it does not compromise peer-review integrity, public trust, or compliance with international standards.
