GW Journal of Ethics in Publishing

The GW Journal of Ethics in Publishing is an open-access, online journal managed by students
in the George Washington University’s Master of Professional Studies (MPS) in Publishing program.
We welcome scholarly research articles, case studies, book reviews, and conference
presentations from scholars, students, and publishing professionals on topics including but not
limited to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), accessibility, sustainability, open access, peer
review, publishing metrics, and other aspects and issues of ethics in publishing. Innovative forms
of scholarship, such as audiovisual media, are also encouraged.
The journal invites submissions from publishing professionals in all areas of the publishing
industry, including academics, librarians, authors, illustrators, editors, agents, rights managers,
production managers, paper producers, ink suppliers, and more. Articles relating to any
publishing sector are welcome, including academic and trade publishing. Student submissions
are also highly encouraged.

Article Types
The GW Journal of Ethics in Publishing accepts five main article types:
● Scholarly research articles and case studies that explore ethical issues in publishing
● Articles about real-world, applied ethics projects in the publishing ecosystem
● Reviews of books and other media with a focus on publishing ethics
● Presentation write-ups from the GW Ethics in Publishing Conference
● Editorials and commentaries on ethical issues in publishing (invitation only)

Submission Requirements
Manuscript Format
Each submission should include the following items:
● The email address of the primary author
● The names and email addresses of all contributing authors
● A short biography of each author (100 words maximum)
● URL links to the author’s (or authors’) personal, project, or university/company websites
● An article abstract (300 words maximum)
● The article or presentation (as a Word.doc attachment)

We generally accept 6,000- to 7,000-word articles but will consider shorter articles. All articles
must have a title, an abstract, an introduction, a body, a conclusion, and a reference list; scholarly
research articles and case studies have additional requirements (see below). Chicago Author-
Date style is required for all in-text citations and reference entries. Chicago Notes-Bibliography
Style will not be accepted.
We know tone and voice differ based on the subject and style of submission, so our only
requirement is that tone and voice are internally consistent within an article. The author is free to
use the tone and voice they find most appropriate. Authors are encouraged to use the Inclusive
Language Guide from the APA and the Conscious Style Guide founded by Karen Yin.

Additional Submission Requirements for Scholarly Research Articles and Case Studies
Scholarly research articles and case studies present original findings resulting from qualitative,
quantitative, or mixed-methods research. They should generally be between 3,000 and 6,000
words long, but we will consider exceptions. Articles should include the following sections (may
vary per article):
● Title Page
● Abstract (300 words maximum)
● Introduction
● Literature Review (when applicable)
● Methods
● Results
● Discussion
● Recommendations
● Conclusion
● References
● Author Bio(s)
The introduction must include a clear thesis statement. The recommendations section should
include three to five items (arranged in a bulleted list) describing how publishing professionals
can apply the article’s findings to real-life publishing practice. The conclusion must summarize
the article and emphasize why readers should be concerned or interested in the article’s topic.
The references section must be in Chicago Author-Date Style format. The author bio(s) should
include the name of the author(s), their institutional/professional affiliation(s), and a brief
description of their expertise in the relevant field.

Peer Review and Editorial Process
Peer Review

Peer review is a fundamental element of scholarly communication that provides valuable
guidance to authors in the development and improvement of their submissions and protects
journal integrity. All submissions are subject to peer review.
The GW Journal of Ethics in Publishing convenes panels of external publishing professionals to
serve as peer reviewers for submissions. GWJEP uses double-masked peer review, so neither the
author nor the reviewer know each other’s identity unless indicated in advance. Manuscripts are
confidential and only shared for the purposes of peer review.
Peer reviews focus on adhering to the following values: equity, openness, respect, and quality.
Final decision for publication is made by the Editor-in-Chief after considering peer review from
multiple reviewers.
All scholarly research articles and case studies undergo double-anonymous peer review. Applied
ethics projects may be improved through active peer review; however, due to their variable
nature, some projects may not warrant peer review. The editorial board will make a case-by-case
determination of what is needed.
If you are interested in volunteering as a peer reviewer, please email your name, area of
expertise, professional affiliation(s), and contact information to gwupress@gmail.com with the
subject line: “Request to Peer Review.”
Editorial Screening for Reviews, Editorials, and Commentaries
The Editorial Board may solicit authors and items for review, but we welcome review proposals.
Please let us know if you have a book, article, or website that you would like to review. You
must let us know if you have any conflicts of interest or connection to the work's authors, editors,
or publishers that you intend to review.
The Editorial Board will invite editorials and commentaries from publishing, library, and
scholarly communication professionals, researchers, scholars, and others to comment on their
work in publishing, their efforts to make publishing more ethical, and their efforts in advancing
the field.
If you have an idea or suggestion or would like to be considered for an editorial or commentary,
please contact Editor-in-Chief Lois Jones at lijones@email.gwu.edu.

Publication Details
Revisions
Accepted authors should be prepared to receive editorial feedback and engage in revisions prior
to manuscript publication.
Author Fees
Authors are not charged any submission or article processing fees.
Questions?
If you have any questions about the GW Journal of Ethics in Publishing, please contact Lois
Jones, Editor-in-Chief, at lijones@gwu.edu.
If you have questions about the GW Ethics in Publishing Conference, please contact John W.
Warren, Director and Associate Professor of the Master of Professional Studies program, at
jww@gwu.edu.