Special issues are governed by the same scholarly, ethical and financial requirements as regular issues. Guest editing provides subject expertise within the journal’s editorial governance.

Approval and public information

A collection requires editorial approval of its rationale, scope, guest editor roles and recruitment approach. An approved call should identify the theme, guest editors and affiliations, submission route, deadline and applicable charges. Disclose external funding or institutional sponsorship.

A proposal, invitation or conference presentation is not acceptance. Changes to a call’s requirements or schedule should be communicated clearly. See Special Issues for proposal guidance.

Guest editor responsibilities

Guest editors must apply the journal’s scope and quality standards, manage submissions confidentially and declare competing interests. They should seek relevant and independent reviewers and avoid inappropriate citation pressure, reciprocal review arrangements or preferential treatment.

A guest editor must not handle their own manuscript or one involving a material personal, professional or institutional relationship. Such submissions require an independent editor. The journal retains oversight of the collection and authority over final publication decisions.

Review and ethical safeguards

Research and review articles receive external peer review under the normal Peer Review policy. All authors must meet requirements for contributions, evidence, ethical research, disclosure, data availability and rights. A thematic fit does not excuse an inadequate design or unsupported finding.

Any editorial introduction or other material using a different assessment route should be identified accurately. The journal may decline a paper, replace a conflicted handler, change a guest editing arrangement or discontinue a collection when necessary to protect standards.

Charges, sponsorship and the record

The standard APC is USD 400 per accepted article, unless a written waiver or discount applies. Sponsorship must not secure favourable decisions or suppress critical results. Funding and sponsor roles must be disclosed at the collection and article level where relevant.

Published special-issue articles follow the same licensing and post-publication procedures as other articles. Concerns about a collection or guest editor may be raised under Complaints & Appeals.

Updated 5 October 2026 · Questions: JPOII Editorial Office