Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement
Statement of Publication Ethics
SalingDiwa: A Literary Journal is committed to upholding ethical standards in literary publishing. The journal promotes integrity, fairness, transparency, respect for intellectual property, and accountability throughout its editorial and publication processes.
Its ethical principles are informed by internationally recognized standards of responsible publishing, including relevant guidance from the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), while recognizing the distinctive nature of literary and creative works.
This statement defines the ethical responsibilities of authors, editors, reviewers, and the publisher.
1. Responsibilities of Authors
Originality and Authorship
Authors must submit original literary works that genuinely reflect their creative and intellectual contributions.
Plagiarism, unauthorized reproduction, misappropriation of another person's creative work, and deliberate misrepresentation of authorship are strictly prohibited.
All individuals who have made substantial creative contributions must receive appropriate acknowledgment.
Multiple and Simultaneous Submissions
Authors must disclose whether a submitted work has been previously published or is simultaneously under consideration by another publication.
Works already published elsewhere shall not normally be considered unless their republication is expressly authorized by the journal and all necessary rights holders.
Accuracy and Authenticity
Authors of creative nonfiction, memoirs, and other fact-based literary works must make reasonable efforts to ensure factual integrity and avoid knowingly presenting fabricated material as factual testimony.
Fictional and imaginative literary works shall be evaluated within their declared creative genres.
Acknowledgment of Sources
Any quotations, literary adaptations, translations, or materials derived from other sources must be appropriately acknowledged.
Authors are responsible for obtaining permissions when required by applicable copyright law.
Use of Artificial Intelligence
Authors must disclose substantial use of generative artificial intelligence in producing or materially transforming submitted literary works.
AI systems cannot be credited as authors. Human authors remain fully responsible for originality, accuracy, copyright compliance, and the artistic integrity of their submissions.
The journal reserves the right to request clarification regarding AI-assisted content and to reject submissions that fail to meet its standards of authentic creative authorship.
2. Responsibilities of Editors
Fair and Impartial Evaluation
Editors shall evaluate submissions based on literary merit, originality, relevance to the journal's scope, and artistic quality.
Editorial decisions must not be influenced by an author's nationality, ethnicity, religion, gender, institutional affiliation, political beliefs, or personal relationships.
Editorial Independence
Editorial decisions shall remain independent of financial, commercial, personal, or institutional pressures.
The Editor-in-Chief and authorized editorial personnel hold responsibility for determining whether a work meets the journal's publication standards.
Confidentiality
Editors shall treat unpublished manuscripts and associated communications as confidential.
Manuscript content shall not be disclosed to unauthorized individuals or used for personal advantage.
Conflicts of Interest
Editors must disclose and appropriately manage potential conflicts of interest involving submitted works, authors, or reviewers.
When a significant conflict exists, editorial responsibility shall be assigned to another qualified individual.
3. Responsibilities of Reviewers and Literary Evaluators
Reviewers and literary evaluators are expected to provide fair, respectful, constructive, and professionally grounded assessments.
They must maintain the confidentiality of unpublished submissions and refrain from using manuscript content without authorization.
Reviewers must disclose potential conflicts of interest and decline assignments when they cannot provide an impartial evaluation.
Reviews should focus on literary quality, originality, structure, artistic expression, and relevance to the journal's editorial objectives.
4. Editorial Assessment and Publication Decisions
All submissions shall undergo an initial editorial screening to determine their suitability for publication.
Manuscripts may undergo further literary evaluation, editorial review, and revision as appropriate to their genre and the journal's review procedures.
The journal may accept, request revisions to, or reject submissions based on their literary merit and compliance with editorial standards.
Final publication decisions rest with the authorized editorial leadership.
Acceptance shall not be guaranteed by submission alone, and all authors shall be treated according to consistent editorial criteria.
5. Plagiarism and Copyright Infringement
SalingDiwa maintains a policy against plagiarism and copyright infringement.
Submissions reasonably suspected of containing plagiarized or unauthorized material shall be subject to editorial investigation.
The journal may request supporting information, consult relevant rights holders, or reject a manuscript when ethical concerns remain unresolved.
If a serious violation is established after publication, the journal may issue a correction, retraction, or other appropriate public notice.
6. Corrections, Retractions, and Withdrawals
SalingDiwa recognizes its responsibility to preserve the reliability and integrity of its publication record.
Corrections may be issued when published content contains significant errors that do not invalidate the work as a whole.
Retractions may be considered in cases involving substantiated plagiarism, copyright violations, serious ethical misconduct, or other circumstances that undermine the legitimacy of publication.
Withdrawal requests shall be evaluated individually, taking into account the author's rights, publication agreements, legal obligations, and preservation of the literary record.
7. Complaints and Appeals
Authors, reviewers, readers, and other concerned individuals may submit ethical complaints or appeals to the journal's editorial office.
Complaints shall be reviewed fairly and confidentially, with relevant parties given reasonable opportunities to provide explanations or supporting evidence.
Editorial decisions may be reconsidered when substantial procedural errors, conflicts of interest, or other legitimate concerns are demonstrated.
The journal shall take appropriate corrective action when a complaint is substantiated.
8. Responsibilities of the Publisher
The publisher shall support editorial independence, ethical publishing practices, and the proper maintenance of published literary records.
The publisher shall not improperly influence editorial decisions for commercial or personal interests.
The publisher and editorial leadership share responsibility for addressing substantiated ethical concerns and maintaining the credibility of the journal.
9. Commitment to Ethical Literary Publishing
SalingDiwa recognizes that literature thrives through creative freedom, intellectual honesty, cultural sensitivity, and respect for diverse perspectives.
The journal is committed to fostering a responsible literary community in which creative expression is encouraged, authorship is protected, and publication decisions are guided by fairness and integrity.