Journals of every kind have a responsibility to follow publishing ethics, which include transparency, fairness, and respect for the rights of authors and readers. Publishing ethics are particularly important for STEM and social sciences journals because they help to safeguard the accountability, accuracy, and integrity of research.

Journal editors should adhere to ethical principles and best practices during every stage of the publishing process, from writing policies and conducting peer review, to addressing misconduct and managing copyright.

The Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) is an international, nonprofit organization created to “educate and advance knowledge and methods of safeguarding the integrity of the scholarly record for the benefit of the public.” (COPE Constitution) Although COPE is a membership organization, many of the resources on its website are freely available. You may find them useful as you create and manage your own journal.

• COPE Principles of Transparency and Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing (nonprofit)
  • This document provides an overview of publishing ethics.
• COPE Ethics Toolkit for a Successful Editorial Office (nonprofit)
  • This toolkit explains how to put ethics into practice for every aspect of scholarly publishing.