Journal Management

Introduction

Accesso Journal is committed to transparent, ethical, and efficient journal management practices. Our goal is to ensure the publication of high-quality, peer-reviewed, openly accessible research for the global academic community, while maintaining strict editorial independence. This policy outlines the governance, operational structure, financial model, and ethical commitments underlying the management of Accesso Journal. We adhere to the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) Core Practices and the Principles of Transparency and Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing.

Description

Journal management encompasses all strategic, operational, editorial, and financial activities necessary for the sustainable and ethical functioning of Accesso Journal. Its key components include:

  • Governance and Ownership: The formal structure and primary responsibilities for the journal.

  • Editorial Independence: The principle that editorial decisions are made free from undue external influence.

  • Financial Model: The sources of funding and revenue supporting the journal's operations, and policies regarding fees.

  • Operational Processes: Workflows for manuscript submission, peer review, production, publication, and archiving.

  • Editorial Team and Board Management: The selection, roles, responsibilities, and support for individuals involved in the editorial process.

  • Ethical Conduct: Adherence to ethical standards in all aspects of journal operations, including marketing and business practices.

Policy

  • Governance and Ownership:

    • Accesso Journal is owned and published by Yayasan Rancak Publik Sumatera Barat, Indonesia.

    • While receiving support from Yayasan Rancak Publik, the editorial operations of Accesso Journal are governed by the Editorial Board and the Editor-in-Chief to ensure academic integrity.

  • Editorial Independence:

    • Accesso Journal upholds the principle of strict editorial independence. All decisions regarding the acceptance or rejection of manuscripts are made by the Editor-in-Chief and the editorial team based solely on the scientific validity, originality, significance, and relevance to the journal's scope, as determined through the peer review process.

    • Editorial decisions are made without interference from the journal owner, publisher, or any other external parties, including commercial or political interests.

  • Financial Model and Transparency:

    • The operational costs of the journal (e.g., hosting, software, DOI registration) are covered by Yayasan Rancak Publik.

    • This financial model will be clearly stated on the journal's website to ensure transparency.

     

  • Operational Processes:

    • Accesso Journal will implement clear, documented, and efficient workflows for manuscript handling, from submission to final decision and publication.

    • The journal will utilize an online manuscript submission and peer review system (e.g., OJS - Open Journal Systems) to manage the process transparently and efficiently.

    • All published content will be assigned a Digital Object Identifier (DOI) to ensure permanent citability and accessibility.

    • Accesso Journal is committed to the long-term digital preservation of its content through participation in archiving programs such as LOCKSS/CLOCKSS or Portico.

  • Editorial Team and Board Management:

    • The Editor-in-Chief is appointed by the journal owner/publisher based on their academic qualifications, expertise, and commitment to the journal's mission.

    • Members of the Editorial Board are invited by the Editor-in-Chief based on their expertise, reputation, and commitment to supporting the journal. The composition of the board should reflect diversity in geography, gender, and expertise.

    • The roles and responsibilities of the Editor-in-Chief, Associate Editors, and Editorial Board members are clearly defined. They are expected to adhere to COPE guidelines and the journal's own policies.

    • The journal provides necessary support and guidance to its editorial team and peer reviewers.

  • Ethical Conduct in Journal Management:

    • Accesso Journal is committed to ethical practices in all its operations, including its marketing and business activities.

    • The journal will avoid misleading or aggressive marketing practices.

    • Relationships with advertisers or sponsors (if any in the future) will be managed transparently and will not influence editorial content or decisions.

  • Complaints and Appeals:

    • Accesso Journal has a clear and accessible procedure for handling complaints and appeals regarding editorial decisions, processes, or conduct. This procedure is detailed in a separate policy document.

  • Continuous Improvement:

    • Accesso Journal is committed to regularly reviewing and improving its policies, processes, and services based on feedback from authors, reviewers, readers, and developments in scholarly publishing best practices.

Technical Measures to Archieve and Implement the Policy

  • Website and Transparency:

    • Detailed "Aims and Scope".

    • Full list of the Editorial Board with affiliations.

    • All journal policies (e.g., Peer Review, Ethics, Intellectual Property, Journal Management).

    • Clear statement of the no-fee (no APC) policy.

    • Information on the journal's ownership and publisher.

    • Instructions for Authors and Reviewers.

    • Contact information.

    • The Accesso Journal website will provide comprehensive and easily accessible information, including:

  • Manuscript Management System:

    • Accesso Journal will use the Open Journal Systems (OJS) platform or a similar robust system to manage the submission, peer review, editing, and production processes. This ensures transparency, efficiency, and a clear audit trail.

  • Defined Roles and Training:

    • Role descriptions for the Editor-in-Chief, Editorial Board members, and journal staff (if any) will be documented.

    • New editorial team members will be provided with guidance on journal policies, COPE guidelines, and the use of the manuscript management system.

  • Financial Transparency:

    • The journal's no-fee policy will be prominently displayed on the website's homepage, submission guidelines, and author instructions to avoid any confusion.

  • Archiving and Preservation:

    • Accesso Journal will formally register with digital preservation services like LOCKSS, CLOCKSS, or Portico to ensure the long-term availability of its published content.

  • Regular Policy Review:

    • The Journal Management policy and all other key policies will be reviewed by the Editorial Board at least biennially (every two years) or more frequently if needed, to ensure they remain current and effective.

This Journal Management Policy provides the framework for the responsible and sustainable operation of Accesso Journal, ensuring it serves the best interests of the academic community it aims to support.