Submitting a Special Issue Proposal

To initiate a Special Issue, prospective Guest Editors must submit a comprehensive proposal to the editorial board of the relevant journal. The proposal must include the following elements:

• Journal Title: Clearly identify the PSR Press journal for which the proposal is intended. Ensure that the subject matter aligns with the journal’s scope and aims.
• Tentative Title of the Special Issue: Propose a concise and descriptive title that reflects the core theme. Avoid overly broad or vague terms to ensure clarity and focus.
• Submission Deadline: Suggest a suitable timeline for submissions, generally allowing a window of 6 to 12 months. This provides authors with ample time to prepare high-quality manuscripts.
• Guest Editor(s) Details: Provide full names, academic affiliations, email addresses, and professional websites. You may also include ORCID IDs, research interests, and social media profiles. A team of 1 to 3 Guest Editors is encouraged to balance workload and ensure quality control. Each Guest Editor should agree on their role and responsibilities in advance.
• Summary of the Special Issue and Keywords: Include a brief summary (150–200 words) explaining the academic motivation, context, and significance of the issue. Highlight the thematic scope and the types of contributions being sought (e.g., research articles, reviews, case studies). Add 3–10 keywords to enhance discoverability.
• Draft Call for Papers (Optional): You may attach a draft version of the Call for Papers. This document should briefly describe the topic, scope, and submission guidelines. It may be used for outreach and promotion.
• Special Issue Promotion Plan (Optional): Describe how you plan to promote the Special Issue (e.g., through conferences, social media, professional groups). Indicate whether you require support from PSR Press for broader outreach.

Guest Editor Responsibilities and Editorial Workflow

• Defining the Scope and Call for Papers: Guest Editors are responsible for developing a well-defined thematic scope and writing a compelling call for papers. They should ensure the topic is of current scientific interest and broad enough to attract submissions while being sufficiently focused.
• Soliciting High-Quality Submissions: Guest Editors actively reach out to relevant researchers, networks, and institutions to encourage contributions. They may coordinate with the editorial office to send official invitations.
• Initial Manuscript Screening: Upon submission, Guest Editors perform an initial assessment of each manuscript to verify thematic relevance, adherence to submission guidelines, and basic academic quality.
• Coordinating Peer Review: Guest Editors recommend qualified, independent reviewers for each submission. They manage the review process, ensuring fair and timely evaluations, and communicate with reviewers and authors as needed.
• Making Editorial Recommendations: Based on reviewers’ feedback, Guest Editors recommend a decision (accept, revise, reject) to the Editor-in-Chief, who retains final authority. Guest Editors must ensure decisions are justified, unbiased, and professionally communicated.
• Writing the Introduction to the Special Issue: Once final decisions are made, Guest Editors draft an editorial introduction. This overview contextualizes the Special Issue, outlines its scholarly contributions, and links the included articles.
• Coordinating Publication and Assembly: Guest Editors collaborate with the journal’s production team to finalize layout, article order, and ensure a cohesive presentation of the Special Issue.
• Post-Publication Promotion: Guest Editors are encouraged to promote the published Special Issue through academic conferences, social media, mailing lists, and personal networks to maximize its visibility and impact.

Editorial Ethics and Integrity Guidelines

All individuals involved in the preparation and management of a Special Issue must uphold the highest standards of academic integrity:

• Conflict of Interest Disclosure: Guest Editors, authors, and reviewers must disclose any personal, financial, or professional conflicts that may affect their objectivity.

• Impartial Review Process: Every submission must undergo independent, double-blind peer review. Editorial decisions must be based solely on scholarly merit.

• Confidentiality: Manuscript contents and reviewer identities must remain confidential throughout the editorial process.

• Transparency and Fairness: All communication with authors and reviewers should be respectful, transparent, and based on consistent criteria.

• Oversight by Editor-in-Chief: The journal’s Editor-in-Chief retains final oversight to ensure the integrity and quality of all published content.

• Compliance with Ethical Standards: PSR Press follows international best practices in publishing ethics. All participants are expected to act in accordance with guidelines such as those provided by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).