Taylor & Francis Group’s journal program provides a home for validated, trusted research from the world’s brightest and best minds.
The editor of a journal plays a vital role in advancing knowledge within fields of research. They do this by:
To support this role, our code of conduct sets out the minimum standards for all Taylor & Francis/Routledge editors who have responsibility for decisions on journal content to help ensure our journals publish quality, trustworthy content.
If you are an existing Taylor & Francis or Routledge editor and have any questions on this code of conduct, please speak to your Taylor & Francis portfolio manager contact.
We expect all editors to comply with this code of conduct, and this obligation will be reflected in future editor agreements.
Taylor & Francis is a member of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). All Taylor & Francis/Routledge journals are expected to operate within COPE guidelines and work within all relevant legal and ethical frameworks. Taylor & Francis/Routledge has a legal and ethical responsibility for all submitted works and will work closely with the editor to ensure that papers are dealt with fairly.
An editor will:
Ethical, timely, effective peer review is fundamental to a journal and, in conjunction with Taylor & Francis/Routledge, the editor is responsible for managing and assuring the integrity of the peer review process.
An editor will:
An active, engaged, and diverse editorial board with a shared vision is essential for journal success and provides invaluable support to the editor.
In order to achieve this, an editor will:
A publisher and editor both bring unique contributions to their working partnership, and this facilitates the achievements of the journal. Taylor & Francis/Routledge are committed to making a success of these partnerships. Taylor & Francis/Routledge are part of Informa, and as such all employees are subject to the Informa Code of Conduct. Editors can expect the following from us:
The editor is expected to work in partnership with Taylor & Francis/Routledge and our supplier partners for the success of the journal and to create a professional, positive, inclusive and safe environment.
Both parties will:
As part of our joint commitment to acting in a way which creates a professional, positive, inclusive and safe environment, journal Editors are expected to ensure that their conduct during online communications (including their use of social media platforms such as Twitter) with authors, readers, reviewers etc. in respect of their Journal, the Publisher or in relation to their role as Editor are professional and respectful.
This is because content uploaded to social media is not private. Even where it is restricted to ‘friends’/ ‘followers’, there is still capacity for it to be re-posted or distributed beyond the intended recipients. Therefore, it is important all parties using social media in their role as Editor or editorial team member for the Journal to conduct themselves with professionalism and respect.
What do we mean by acceptable conduct?
Content posted on to a social media site which is in respect of their Journal, the Publisher or in relation to their role as Editor should not:
In cases where the conduct on a social media platform has been found to be unacceptable and not in accordance with this policy Taylor & Francis reserves the right to remove the relevant social media/ Twitter account link from the journal homepage.
In regard to responding online to controversial messages, while legitimate academic debate is positive, when it comes to trolls and any offensive posts, our advice is that it is best not to engage on a public platform. Instead, any such concerns about controversial social media posts should be raised in the first instance to Taylor & Francis through an email to the journal’s Portfolio Manager (or the main journal contact at Taylor & Francis). As the Publisher, we’re here to support Editors in this and provide Editors with guidelines, assistance and ongoing support in cases of online harassment.