EASE course: Editorial School for Journal Editors

Module 2 Publishing ethics for editors

Wednesday, 10 April, 2pm (UK time)

Part I of our popular Editorial School for Journal Editors ran in April 2024. Joan Marsh, former EASE President, delivered the second of four modules.

The format was a lecture, followed by a moderated breakout session in which small groups consider two case studies, and then a final session to feedback the discussions from the breakout groups and answer further questions from delegates.

Each module was recorded and made available to participants together with handbooks for easy reference.

Module 2 content

Publishing ethics are a frequent concern for many journals, and the issues range from small annoyances to large-scale problems which can have a dramatic negative impact on both the publications and the people involved. It is always better to avoid problems than to try and remedy them, and this workshop considered strategies and policies journals can introduce to mitigate the possibility of ethical problems.

The workshop highlighted some of the most common ethical issues such as duplicate and plagiarised publications, author, editor and reviewer ethics, data and artwork manipulation and misinterpretation. The workshop looked at ways in which problems can be mitigated, and how they (if they happen) can be resolved effectively and efficiently.

Learning objectives

1.Identifying problems
Delegates were presented with the various ways in which problems can be identified and systems to mitigate problems before they happen.

2. Avoiding problems
Delegates were asked to consider the policies that their journals create and implement, and how these could be strengthened.

3. Responding to problems
Delegates learnt how to respond to problems in a balanced and fair way, and ensure that their journal responds appropriately when errors are identified.