Guide for Editors

This guide outlines the roles, responsibilities, and editorial procedures for editors of the Journal of Marketing Review (JMR). It ensures transparency, consistency, and the highest standards of academic integrity across all stages of the editorial and peer-review process.

1. Editorial Structure and Roles

1.1 Editor-in-Chief (EiC)

The Editor-in-Chief is responsible for:

  • Defining the journal’s academic vision and strategic direction in marketing and related disciplines
  • Ensuring adherence to editorial policies, ethical standards, and publication quality
  • Making final decisions on manuscript acceptance, revision, or rejection
  • Appointing Associate Editors, Editorial Board members, and Guest Editors
  • Representing the journal in academic, industry, and indexing platforms

1.2 Associate Editors

Associate Editors support the EiC by:

  • Managing manuscripts within their subject expertise (e.g., digital marketing, branding, consumer behaviour, analytics)
  • Selecting qualified peer reviewers
  • Evaluating reviewer reports and providing editorial recommendations
  • Ensuring timely, fair, and rigorous peer-review processes

1.3 Editorial Board Members

Editorial Board members are expected to:

  • Advise on journal scope, strategy, and development
  • Support manuscript review upon request
  • Promote the journal in academic and professional networks
  • Contribute to special issues and thematic initiatives

2. Editorial Independence and Integrity

Editors must:

  • Maintain full independence and objectivity in editorial decisions
  • Base all decisions solely on scholarly merit, originality, and relevance
  • Avoid conflicts of interest in all editorial activities
  • Ensure strict confidentiality throughout and after the review process

Editorial decisions must not be influenced by personal, institutional, or commercial interests.

3. Manuscript Handling Workflow

Step 1: Initial Screening

Editors evaluate submissions for:

  • Alignment with JMR scope (marketing and related disciplines)
  • Originality, theoretical contribution, and methodological quality
  • Ethical compliance and research integrity

Manuscripts not meeting minimum standards may be desk-rejected with clear justification.

Step 2: Reviewer Selection

Editors must:

  • Assign at least two independent reviewers with relevant expertise
  • Ensure subject-matter alignment (e.g., branding, digital marketing, consumer psychology)
  • Avoid conflicts of interest between reviewers and authors
  • Ensure diversity and balance in reviewer selection

Step 3: Peer Review Management

Editors are responsible for:

  • Monitoring review timelines and ensuring timely completion
  • Ensuring reviewer feedback is constructive, professional, and objective
  • Addressing ethical concerns raised during review
  • Requesting additional reviews when necessary

Step 4: Editorial Decision

Based on reviewer reports, editors may recommend:

  • Accept
  • Minor revision
  • Major revision
  • Reject

The Editor-in-Chief makes the final decision in complex or contested cases.

4. Decision Communication

Editors must ensure that decision letters:

  • Clearly summarise reviewer feedback and editorial reasoning
  • Provide constructive and respectful guidance to authors
  • Maintain professional and neutral tone
  • Offer developmental feedback even in rejection cases

5. Ethical Oversight

Editors are responsible for identifying and addressing:

  • Plagiarism and self-plagiarism
  • Data fabrication, falsification, or manipulation
  • Authorship disputes or misattribution
  • Undisclosed conflicts of interest

All cases must follow COPE guidelines and established journal procedures.

6. Handling Conflicts of Interest

Editors must recuse themselves when:

  • There is prior collaboration with the authors
  • Institutional, financial, or personal relationships exist
  • Any potential bias may influence editorial judgment

Such manuscripts must be reassigned to another editor.

7. Use of AI in Editorial Processes

Editors may use AI tools only for:

  • Language and grammar assistance
  • Administrative support (e.g., reviewer suggestions with human verification)

Editors must ensure:

  • AI does not make editorial decisions
  • Confidentiality of manuscripts is fully protected
  • No manuscript content is exposed, reused, or misappropriated

8. Special Issues Management

  • Guest Editors must be approved by the Editor-in-Chief
  • Clear aims, scope, and timelines must be defined
  • All submissions undergo full double-blind peer review
  • Final decision authority remains with the Editor-in-Chief

9. Timeliness and Performance Standards

Editors are expected to:

  • Complete initial screening within 7–10 days
  • Ensure first review decisions within 4 weeks
  • Maintain clear communication with authors and reviewers
  • Report delays to the EiC in a timely manner

10. Post-Acceptance Responsibilities

Editors must:

  • Ensure manuscripts meet formatting and ethical requirements
  • Coordinate with copyediting and production teams
  • Approve final proofs before publication
  • Verify metadata accuracy and DOI assignment

11. Retractions, Corrections, and Appeals

Editors must:

  • Recommend corrections, errata, or retractions when necessary
  • Handle appeals transparently and fairly
  • Maintain full documentation of editorial decisions and correspondence

12. Editorial Meetings and Review

The editorial team should:

  • Review journal performance annually
  • Evaluate reviewer quality and editorial efficiency
  • Update editorial policies where needed
  • Plan special issues and strategic initiatives

13. Confidentiality and Data Protection

Editors must:

  • Treat all submissions as strictly confidential
  • Avoid using unpublished material for personal or professional gain
  • Comply with data protection and privacy requirements

14. Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Editors are expected to:

  • Promote diversity in authorship, reviewers, and editorial board composition
  • Encourage participation from diverse geographic and institutional backgrounds
  • Ensure fair, unbiased editorial treatment of all submissions

15. Compliance and Accountability

Editors must:

  • Uphold the mission and integrity of JMR
  • Follow all editorial policies consistently
  • Support journal visibility, indexing, and quality enhancement

Non-compliance may result in reassignment or removal from editorial responsibilities.