Guide for Editors | Editorial Board Policy

Guide for Editors

Editorial Board: Roles, Responsibilities, and Ethics

The Editorial Board members of journals published by Zibeline International Publishing are qualified experts in their fields, representing a wide range of disciplines relevant to each journal's scope. Members are affiliated with recognized educational and research institutions and are expected to adhere to the Code of Conduct for Journal Editors .

The Editorial Board is regularly reviewed. Inactive members may be removed, and new members appointed as necessary. All members are invited via an official letter issued by the journal or publisher.

Editors-in-Chief and Editorial Board members hold responsibilities toward authors, reviewers, readers, the scientific community, journal owners, publishers, and the public at large.

Editors-in-Chief are responsible for assigning duties to board members and keeping them informed of updates or changes in editorial and publishing policies.

Appointment to the Editorial Board

Researchers interested in joining the Editorial Board of journals published by Zibeline International Publishing may apply by sending an email to the Editors-in-Chief along with their curriculum vitae (CV), including:

Educational background
Institutional affiliation
Research interests and academic activities
List of publications
Editorial or reviewer roles in other journals
Contact email
Link to a personal or institutional webpage

Selection is based on academic expertise, relevance to the journal scope, and willingness to contribute to editorial activities.

Ethical Standards and Editorial Principles

Editors are encouraged to follow the COPE Core Practices .

Zibeline International Publishing also follows the principles in the Sarajevo Declaration on the Integrity and Visibility of Scientific Publications .

Our Editorial and Peer Review Policy: Our editors and reviewers are experts in their respective fields and are entrusted with overseeing the peer review process and ensuring the integrity of the journal's content. Their responsibilities include managing the peer review of manuscripts, making recommendations regarding acceptance or rejection, and attracting high-quality submissions. The following guidelines are based on the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) Code of Conduct and best practices for journal editors.

1. ETHICAL EXPECTATIONS

1.1. Responsibilities of Editors

Diligence: Editors must thoroughly evaluate every manuscript submitted for publication to ensure that it presents a significant contribution—either by developing a new topic or providing novel insight into an existing one. The Editor-in-Chief (EiC) of Zibeline International Publishing journals bears sole and independent responsibility for determining which manuscripts are suitable for publication. This decision must be supported by the validity and relevance of the work to the research community and readership. Editors may be constrained by legal considerations such as libel, copyright infringement, or plagiarism and should comply with the legal requirements of the country or region in which the study was conducted, provided sufficient methodological detail is included.

Fairness: Editors must perform their duties in a fair, objective, and impartial manner, without discrimination based on gender, sexual orientation, religious or political beliefs, or ethnic or geographical origin. Manuscripts submitted for special issues or sponsored supplements must be treated with the same rigor as regular submissions, and decisions should be based solely on academic merit without commercial influence.

Confidentiality: Editors must protect the confidentiality of all submitted materials and communications with reviewers, unless disclosure is agreed upon with the relevant parties. Unpublished data, ideas, or information obtained through the peer review process must not be used for personal gain or included in an editor's own research.

Conflicts of Interest and Ethical Complaints: Editors must follow fair procedures when handling ethical complaints or conflicts of interest, as outlined by the journal's policies. Authors must be given a fair opportunity to respond. Complaints should be investigated regardless of when the publication occurred, and all associated documentation must be retained.

1.2. Responsibilities of the Publisher

Zibeline International Publishing (ZIP) is committed to upholding the highest ethical standards in scholarly publishing. ZIP supports editors and reviewers in maintaining academic integrity and ensuring best practices are observed across all publications. While nurturing the scholarly communication process, ZIP is ultimately accountable for the ethical management of its journals.

2. PROCEDURES FOR DEALING WITH UNETHICAL BEHAVIOR

Identification of Misconduct: Unethical conduct may be reported to the editor or publisher at any time by anyone. Misconduct includes but is not limited to the breaches outlined above. All allegations must be supported by sufficient evidence to enable a proper investigation and will be treated with seriousness and impartiality.

Investigation: Initial evaluation should be conducted by the editor, in consultation with the publisher if necessary. Information must be handled discreetly, and only those who need to be informed should be involved.

Minor Misconduct: These cases may be resolved without broader consultation. Authors must be allowed to respond.

Serious Misconduct: In cases of serious ethical breaches, the editor and publisher may inform the accused party's institution or employer. This decision will be based on the evidence and expert consultation.

Possible Outcomes (in ascending order of severity):

Educating the author/reviewer on acceptable standards
Issuing a formal warning
Publishing a notice of misconduct
Publishing an editorial outlining the issue
Notifying the author's/reviewer's institution or funding body
Retracting or withdrawing the paper
Imposing a submission embargo
Reporting to regulatory or professional bodies

3. SPECIFIC GUIDELINES FOR THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF (EiC)

The EiC must relay reviewers' full comments to authors, unless the comments are inappropriate.
The EiC should acknowledge the work of reviewers publicly or privately.
The EiC has a duty to investigate suspected misconduct, whether the paper is published or unpublished.
The EiC must not reject papers solely on the basis of suspected misconduct without first seeking a response from the authors.
If unsatisfied with the response, the EiC should notify the appropriate institution or governing body.
The EiC must ensure that all allegations are thoroughly investigated and pursue resolution if needed.
Constructive criticism of published work should be welcomed. Authors must be given the chance to respond, and negative results should not be excluded.
The EiC must respond to complaints promptly and ensure that a process exists for appeals.
For complaints, contact: info@zibelinepub.com

Responsibilities toward Authors

Treat all authors with fairness, respect, and transparency.
Safeguard intellectual property rights.
Ensure timely peer review and publication.
Maintain clear author guidelines.
Monitor compliance with ethical and authorship standards.

All manuscripts must be submitted through the official submission system:
https://zibelinejournalsubmissions.com/

Responsibilities toward Reviewers and Readers

Ensure an independent and transparent peer-review process.
Respect reviewer expertise and timelines.
Maintain high journal quality and publishing standards.
Ensure free and continuous access to published content.
Maintain reliable journal websites and archives.

GUIDE FOR EDITORS

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