It's commonly agreed that a journal's editorial board is its most important component. Each magazine published by FMDB Publications is overseen by a group of experts with decades of combined experience in the field. In every step of the publication process, our Editors and the editing staff work together closely. Read more about how we evaluate submissions and how the editorial process works by going to the Peer Review Process page.
During the editing process, the editor is responsible for overseeing the article's Peer Review. They collaborate with the editorial staff to take on a manuscript within their areas of expertise, find the most qualified reviewers for it, and give authors constructive feedback.
Before accepting a review invitation, editors have several responsibilities. A member of the editorial staff who believes they have a conflict of interest with the paper's authors should notify the editorial office immediately.
Appointing Reviewers
Editors must select qualified reviewers for their work. Reviewers who are qualified for the task at hand can be selected from our pool of willing participants. There is always the option of bringing in other reviewers if you feel the current group is lacking in expertise to fairly evaluate the research.
Editors have a responsibility to ensure that no reviewers have any vested interests in the outcomes of the submissions they are evaluating. "Conflicting interests" are any factors outside of the editorial team's control that could influence their decision-making process. It is inappropriate to choose reviewers who have professional ties to the authors or who are engaged in similar activities.
Review Process
Editors of journals are tasked with providing authors with insightful, detailed, and objective feedback on their submissions.
Peer review reports should be completed quickly but thoroughly, and it is the duty of editors to manage this process and communicate with reviewers. As an editor, it is your responsibility to keep an eye on the feedback provided by reviewers and ensure that they pay close attention to the following criteria when writing their report.
The reviewers are aware of the identity of the manuscript's authors, but the writers are kept in the dark regarding the reviewers' identities. It is the responsibility of the editors to safeguard this procedure and prevent any information from being shared with the authors and/or other researchers.
Providing a Final Resolution
Editors are obligated to send each manuscript out to at least three reviewers for feedback, with a minimum of two reviews being required before a decision is made. Reviewer feedback may be considered in making a final choice, which may or may not also take into account the Editor's personal opinions or recommendations.
The writers should get a comprehensive report that reflects the group's work and includes the following sections:
When submitting a final judgement, the editor is responsible for the verdict and should be able to justify any queries or issues presented by the authors regarding the review process.
If the editors have any reservations about the originality, clarity, or applicability of the research to the journal, they can choose to reject the paper.