For Editors

This section offers guidance and resources to assist our Editors in their roles.

 

Become an Editor

Are you interested in being an editor on a GS Publishing journal? Or are you a current editor and wish to suggest a colleague to join your Editorial Board? You can apply to be an editorial board member or Guest Editor by emailing us at info@gs_publishing.uk. We'd love to hear from you!

 

Resources for Academic Editors

The following resources are available for your reference without logging in, and for the interest of authors and prospective new Editors.

Editors’ roles and responsibilities

Academic Editors at GS Publishing assess the scope and quality of each submitted manuscript and make a recommendation based on feedback from peer reviewers. Editorial Boards are collectively responsible for ensuring that the journal publishes high-quality research that falls within its scope and objectives.

Publication ethics

GS Publishing consults Editors when ethical issues arise with published articles. GS Publishing’s journals are members of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), and we recommend that you read their guidelines and other resources. We have a comprehensive list of GS Publishing’s publication ethics policies on our dedicated ethics page.

For questions or to report research integrity issues, contact publication.ethics@gs_publishing.uk.

Approving Special Issues

Special Issues are one-off issues of a journal, which focus on a specific topic or contemporary theme. Special Issues are proposed and managed by a team of Guest Editors from outside the Editorial Board. Editorial Board members are also encouraged to submit Special Issue proposals.

Publishing Editors at GS Publishing perform essential due diligence on all Special Issue proposals. Our team ensures that key information is present and verified, as well as assessing the likelihood of receiving sufficient submissions in response to the Call for Papers.

Editorial Board members are best placed to make a decision on whether the topic of a Special Issue is a good fit for the journal. Therefore, we contact Editors for advice on a Special Issue proposal.

Providing feedback

We ask Editors to provide feedback on a journal’s direction or performance. We use this feedback to improve all aspects of our operations. Comments should seek to recommend reasonable improvements, in a polite and impersonal tone. Show professional courtesy by thinking about what you would want to receive on a paper of your own. And if it is good, say so – and also say why!

Don't be vague or too brief

Authors find precise and detailed feedback extremely helpful, and this tends to result in a timely and smoother review process. Whereas a brief report will often lead to additional questions from authors. Make sure recommendations and decisions are explained clearly. You should make good use of the detailed questionnaire provided in the collaborative review platform to provide a clear assessment.

Don't leave out key points in your initial report

The initial report should be thorough and provide all the necessary feedback upfront. While it is possible that further revisions to the paper will bring up new questions, be sure to include your key points in your initial report. Ensure you conclude your report with a clear recommendation for the handling editor. You are the expert and your guidance is highly valued.

Don't drop out of the peer review

To ensure an efficient process for all involved, please try to submit your responses on time. If you need to request an extension or to withdraw from the review process you can contact the editorial office for support. Try to place yourself in the authors' shoes, as they anxiously await feedback on their submission.

Our Publishing Editors of editorial office serve as the point of contact for our Editors. These GS Publishing employees are publishing professionals who also have a research background. They provide subject-specific support to our Editors and also work to promote the journals in their areas of expertise.

Promoting the journal

We hope that our Editors will be keen to share their hard work with colleagues, collaborators, and other connections. The most successful journals are those that are supported and promoted by their Editorial Boards.

We encourage Editors to discuss their journals among their colleagues, add them to their online profiles, and promote them at conferences.

Editorial threshold

To ensure that all manuscripts receive fair and equal consideration when submitted to our journals, we have a clear editorial threshold against which manuscripts should be measured.

Research published in our journals must be:

• Scientifically valid – adhering to accepted community standards of research.
• Technically accurate in its methods and results.
• Representative of a specific advance, or replication, or null/negative result, which is worthy of publication.  
• As reproducible as possible – sharing underlying data, code, and supporting materials wherever able.
• Ethically sound — adhering to best practice with respect to animal and human studies, consent to publish and clear declaration of potential conflicts of interests, both real and perceived.

In the spirit of sharing findings through our open science mission, emphasis is not placed on novelty, interest, or perceived impact. Additionally, as we are an online journal with no limit on page count.

Out of scope manuscripts

A manuscript that is not in scope for the journal it has been submitted to should be rejected before peer review, but if it is of otherwise reasonable quality and scientific rigor, editors are encouraged to suggest alternative journals or more relevant subject areas. Authors are then sent a list of appropriate transfer destinations to help ensure that all good quality research is published.

 

Becoming a Special Issue Guest Editor

If you would like to run your own Special Issue, the following resources will guide you through the process, from assembling your Guest Editor team and writing your proposal, through to advertising your Call for Papers and managing submissions, to celebrating your published Issue. Click here for more information about Special Issues.

 

Contact us

Our editorial office is always available to offer support. If you have any questions about editorial duties contact your Editorial Assistant.