EDITORIAL ENDOGENY & SELF-PUBLICATION POLICY

EDITORIAL ENDOGENY & SELF-PUBLICATION POLICY

Editorial Endogeny & Self-Publication Policy

The Link Medical Journal of Health and Community Research (LMJHCR) is committed to maintaining editorial objectivity, diversity of authorship, and the highest standards of academic integrity. To ensure that the journal remains a platform for diverse scholarly voices and avoids excessive self-publication by editors or board members, LMJHCR has established clear limits on editorial endogeny (also known as "endogamy"). This policy aligns with ethical publishing standards and best international practices for scholarly publishing.

Definition of Editorial Endogeny

Editorial endogeny refers to the proportion of articles published in a journal that are authored or co-authored by members of the journal's editorial team, including:

  • Editor-in-Chief
  • Associate Editors
  • Section Editors
  • Editorial Board Members
  • Advisory Board Members
  • Guest Editors (for special issues)
  • Peer Reviewers (who regularly review for the journal)

Endogeny Limits

LMJHCR enforces the following limit:

No more than 5% of articles published in any given volume year may be authored or co-authored by members of the editorial team.

This ensures:

  • Editorial diversity
  • Objectivity in peer review
  • Broader representation of the scholarly community
  • Avoidance of conflicts of interest
  • Compliance with major indexing and transparency expectations

Monitoring & Compliance

3.1 Annual Monitoring

The Editor-in-Chief and Editorial Office will:

  • Track the number of articles published each year
  • Identify articles authored or co-authored by editorial team members
  • Calculate the percentage of editorial self-publications
  • Report annually to the publisher

3.2 Quarterly Reviews

To prevent exceeding the 5% threshold:

  • Endogeny statistics may be reviewed periodically
  • If the percentage approaches the threshold, additional caution is exercised when considering submissions from editorial team members

3.3 Transparency

Endogeny statistics may be disclosed upon request or during journal evaluations for indexing services.

Handling Submissions From Editorial Team Members

4.1 Mandatory Recusal

When an editorial team member submits a manuscript, the submitting editor must recuse themselves completely from the editorial process. They cannot:

  • Handle their own manuscript
  • Select reviewers
  • Make editorial decisions
  • View reviewer comments or identities
  • Influence the review process in any way

4.2 Independent Handling

Manuscripts submitted by editorial team members are handled by:

  • An independent editor not affiliated with the author(s)
  • Preferably an editor from a different institution or country
  • If necessary, an external guest editor may be appointed

4.3 Rigorous Peer Review

Submissions from editorial team members undergo:

  • The same double-blind peer review process as all manuscripts
  • At least two independent external reviewers
  • Higher scrutiny to avoid any perception of bias
  • No preferential treatment in review timelines or acceptance criteria

4.4 Conflict of Interest Declaration

The submitting editor must:

  • Declare their editorial role in the conflict of interest statement
  • Confirm they have not influenced the review process
  • Agree to independent editorial handling

Special Issues & Guest Editors

5.1 Guest Editor Submissions

For special issues managed by guest editors:

  • No more than 5% of articles in the special issue may be authored or co-authored by the guest editor(s)
  • Guest editors cannot review or make decisions on their own manuscripts
  • The Editor-in-Chief or an independent editor handles all guest editor submissions

5.2 Independent Oversight

All special issues are overseen by the Editor-in-Chief or a senior editor, who:

  • Reviews final decisions
  • Ensures objectivity
  • Monitors endogeny limits for the special issue

Reviewer Manuscripts

6.1 Regular Reviewers

If a person who regularly reviews for LMJHCR submits a manuscript:

  • They must not review manuscripts during the review of their own submission
  • Their manuscript is handled independently
  • No reciprocal reviewing arrangements are permitted

6.2 No Quid Pro Quo

The journal strictly prohibits:

  • Reciprocal reviewing arrangements
  • Peer review rings
  • Trading authorship or citations
    Any evidence of such arrangements will result in rejection and potential sanctions.

Consequences of Non-Compliance

7.1 If Endogeny Limit Is Exceeded

If the 5% threshold is exceeded in any volume year:

  • Corrective measures will be implemented immediately
  • Additional manuscripts authored by editorial team members may be deferred to a subsequent volume year
  • A corrective action plan will be prepared for governance and evaluation purposes
  • Indexing bodies will be informed if required by their procedures

7.2 Individual Violations

If an editor is found to have influenced their own manuscript’s review, violated recusal requirements, or engaged in quid pro quo arrangements, consequences may include:

  • Immediate manuscript rejection
  • Retraction of a published article
  • Removal from editorial position
  • Notification to their institution
  • Prohibition from future submissions
  • Reporting to relevant ethics bodies

Contact for Concerns

Concerns about editorial endogeny or self-publication should be reported to:

  • Editor-in-Chief: editor@linkmjhcr.com
  • Publisher: info@lmi.education

All concerns will be handled confidentially according to the journal's Complaints & Appeals Policy.