Special issues are collections of papers which focused on a subject of special interest. Special issues are organized by experts who take the role of guest editors. Special issues are different from regular issues of the journal, but their submissions follow the same peer review process as regular papers. When special issues are accepted they will be labelled as belonging to a special issue. 
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If you have an idea for a special issue, please fill in all the required information and submit the proposal. 

The special issues proposal must include the following:

• Please ensure that the topic of your proposal is within the scope of the journal
• The special issues’s tentative title should clearly reflect the subject of interest
• A special issue can be open for submission for 6-12 months
• A list of guest editors that includes their names, affiliations, email address, research interests. Feel free to invite 1-3 colleagues to co-edit the special issues with you.
• A summary of special issues (150-200 words) and relevant keywords (3-10 words). Briefly described the motivation behind the special issue, the  main topic and areas covered, and the type of submissions that would fit the scope of the special issue.
• Information for at least 8 planned papers or at least 20 potential authors (following the peer review process, not all planned papers may be suitable for publication)
• A call for papers email prepared by the guest editors (optional), which will be used to invite scholars to submit their research to your special issues. It should contain a brief description of the special issue and motivate the potential contributors to submit their research.
• Please let us know how to assist you to promote the special issues and attract potential contributors
• Previous experience as a guest editor fo WNJ 

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Editorial procedure of submissions to the special issue

Special issue submissions are peer-reviewed and published following “The WNJ editorial process”

The guest editor(s) can accept/reject/ask the author for revision/ask for additional reviewer. When making an editorial decision, guest editor(s) are expected to verify the following:

Initial screening:

• The overall relevance of the manuscript to the special issue
• Alignment with recognized research integrity and ethical principles
• The manuscript’s standards of rigor to qualify for further review

First or final decisions:

• The suitability of the selected reviewers
• The adequacy of the reviewer’s comments and the authors response
• The overall scientific quality of the paper

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If there is any suspicion that a paper may contain plagiarism, WNJ editor will recheck it using iThenticate software

Decisions regarding the acceptance or rejection of submissions made by guest editors are based on the collected reviewer reports, and it should be noted that the editor in chief and/or editorial board members maintain oversight and may involved in the decision- making process in some cases.

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Additionally, please note the following:

1. If there are conflicts of interest between authors and guest editor,  we will invite another editor from WNJ editorial board with appropriate research background to check manuscripts and make decisions
2. If guest editor(s) unresponsive regarding matters of acceptance or rejection,  we will invite another editor from WNJ editorial board with appropriate research background to check manuscripts and make decisions
3. If guest editor(s) accept the manuscript, but reviewer rejected the manuscript, WNJ staff will seek second opinion from editorial board member
4. Any article submitted by guest editor will be handled by a member of the editorial board

 

Guest editor guide

Guest editor will be in charge of special issue’s content. WNJ editors will provide administrative assistance.

 

• Guest editor is responsible for ensuring that all content published in the special issue aligns with the specific scope of the special issue and the broader scope of the journal.
• Guest editor must not ask authors to include references that have conflict of interest with the guest editor. The addition of references not relevant to the work is strongly discouraged
• Special issues may publish contributions from guest editor(s) in limited numbers to ensure diversity and inclusiveness. Any article submitted by a guest editor will be handled by a member of the editorial board.
• Guest editor should protect the confidentiality of all material submitted to the journal, unless the manuscript is to be published with open peer review and the viewers have signed their review report.
• All those involved in the peer review process must consider and declare any conflict of interest when participating in the review, decision making process and publication of a paper. In the event of a conflict of interest, an alternative editor will be found.
• Any editorial conflict of interest should be declared to the publisher in writing prior to the appointment of the editor. When new conflicts of interest arise, updates are needed to informed. 

 

Guest editor duties

• Preparing the special issue’s title, summary and keywords 
• Providing potential contributors and inviting investigators in the field to contribute
• Pre-screening new submissions, supervising the peer review process, making decisions about articles submitted to the special issue
• Promoting the special issue