Publication Ethics

Spectrum: Media, Culture & Society (SMCS) is fully committed to upholding the highest standards of publication ethics throughout the entire editorial and publishing process. The journal ensures professionalism and integrity from all parties involved, including authors, editors, reviewers, and the publisher, by adhering to the principles outlined in the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) Best Practice Guidelines for Journal Editors.

The publication of articles in a peer-reviewed journal is a fundamental contribution to the development of a credible and respected body of knowledge. It reflects the quality of the authors’ work and the institutions that support them. Therefore, all parties involved in the publishing process are expected to comply with established ethical standards.

The publisher of SMCS is committed to safeguarding editorial independence and ensuring that commercial interests, including advertising or other revenues, do not influence editorial decisions.

Duties of Editors

Publication Decisions
Editors are responsible for deciding which submitted manuscripts should be published based on their academic merit, originality, and relevance to the journal’s scope. Decisions may be guided by editorial policies and legal requirements related to copyright, libel, and plagiarism.

Peer Review
Editors ensure that all manuscripts undergo a fair, unbiased, and timely double-blind peer review by at least two independent reviewers with appropriate expertise.

Fair Play
Editors evaluate manuscripts solely on intellectual content, without regard to the authors’ race, gender, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, ethnicity, citizenship, or political views.

Confidentiality
Editors must treat all submitted manuscripts as confidential documents and must not disclose any information to unauthorized parties.

Conflict of Interest
Editors must disclose any conflicts of interest and must not be involved in decisions regarding manuscripts in which they have a personal or professional interest.

Integrity of the Scholarly Record
Editors are responsible for addressing ethical issues and may issue corrections, retractions, or expressions of concern when necessary.

Duties of Reviewers

Contribution to Editorial Decisions
Reviewers assist editors in making publication decisions and help authors improve their manuscripts.

Confidentiality
Manuscripts received for review must be treated as confidential and must not be shared or discussed with others.

Objectivity
Reviews should be conducted objectively, with clear arguments and constructive feedback. Personal criticism is inappropriate.

Acknowledgment of Sources
Reviewers should identify relevant work that has not been cited and inform editors of any similarities with other publications.

Conflict of Interest
Reviewers must disclose any conflicts of interest and decline to review manuscripts where such conflicts exist.

Duties of Authors

Reporting Standards
Authors must present accurate and original research, with sufficient detail to allow replication.

Originality and Plagiarism
Authors must ensure their work is original and properly cite all sources.

Multiple or Redundant Publication
Authors should not submit the same manuscript to multiple journals simultaneously or publish redundant work.

Authorship
Authorship should be limited to individuals who have made significant contributions to the research. All co-authors must approve the final manuscript.

Data Access and Retention
Authors may be required to provide raw data and should ensure data availability where appropriate.

Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest
Authors must disclose any financial or other conflicts that may influence their research.

Correction of Errors
Authors must promptly notify the journal of any significant errors in their published work and cooperate in corrections or retractions.

Duties of the Publisher

Handling of Misconduct
The publisher, in collaboration with the editors, will take appropriate action in cases of ethical misconduct, including issuing corrections or retractions where necessary.

Editorial Independence
The publisher ensures that editorial decisions are free from commercial influence.

Access and Archiving
The publisher is committed to ensuring long-term access and preservation of published content through appropriate archiving systems.

SMCS is dedicated to maintaining the integrity of the academic record and expects all participants in the publication process to adhere strictly to these ethical standards.