JOIN
Early draft reports about research findings have value but benefit from review and refinement.
Scholarly publishing is the system that turns raw reports about research findings into shared, trusted, and lasting knowledge. This site shows how that happens—not just who does what, but how the system fits together, and why it matters far beyond academia.
A formal report about research findings, written by experts and usually reviewed by other experts before publication. It’s the core building block of scholarly publishing.
A draft of a scholarly article submitted to a journal for review. It becomes a published article once it’s accepted and prepared for formal publication.
A process in which other experts in the field evaluate a manuscript’s quality, rigor, and contribution before it’s published.
A curated collection of scholarly articles, often focused on a specific field or discipline. Journals are typically edited by experts and follow set editorial standards.
A model that makes scholarly articles freely available to read and use—removing cost barriers for readers.
The final, published version of a scholarly article. This is the citable, permanent version that enters the scientific record.
A version of a manuscript shared publicly before peer review. Preprints speed up access to research but are usually not vetted.
A correction addresses a specific error in a published article. A retraction removes the validity of a published article due to major issues such as misconduct or invalid findings but typically does not remove the article from the published record.
From Submission to Decision: A Manuscript’s Journey
An author submits their manuscript to the journal’s online system, often via platforms like Editorial Manager or ScholarOne.
Behind the scenes:
The publisher’s infrastructure logs the submission, checks for basic technical compliance, and assigns the paper to the appropriate journal queue. Automated tools may flag issues such as incomplete metadata, improper figure formats, or missing author declarations.
Why it matters: Strong infrastructure ensures that the paper enters the system efficiently and is routed correctly.
An academic editor assesses the manuscript to determine whether it aligns with the journal’s scope and standards — and whether it offers a meaningful contribution to its field.
Behind the scenes:
With support from publisher systems, the editor evaluates the clarity of the research question, relevance to the journal’s audience, and potential impact. This step helps ensure that submissions are routed to review only when peer review would be a productive investment — both for reviewers and for authors.
Why it matters: Thoughtful editorial screening helps protect researchers’ time, maintain review quality, and ensure that readers encounter work that meets field-specific expectations for rigor and relevance.
The editor considers reviewer comments and makes a decision: reject, revise, or accept.
Behind the scenes:
Editors are supported by decision templates, journal policy guidance, and in some cases, cross-journal adjudication systems for appeals. Staff assist in formalizing the decision letter and ensuring feedback is communicated clearly and constructively.
Why it matters: Publishers support editors in making informed, policy-aligned decisions that balance rigor with fairness.
Qualified reviewers are invited to critically evaluate the manuscript.
Behind the scenes:
Publisher staff manage the peer review workflow: identifying, inviting, and reminding reviewers; tracking timelines; and ensuring anonymity where required. Many publishers also offer reviewer recognition tools, handle disputes or ethical flags, and support double-anonymised or open peer review protocols.
Why it matters: A well-managed review system maintains fairness, quality control, and timeliness — all critical to scholarly trust.
The editor evaluates reviewer feedback and makes a decision — often to reject, request revisions, or accept the manuscript.
Behind the scenes:
The editor weighs the reviewers’ recommendations, assesses the paper’s contribution, and ensures the decision aligns with the journal’s editorial standards. Publishers may provide decision support tools, policy guidance, or administrative assistance — though practices vary widely.
Why it matters: Thoughtful editorial decisions reflect a balance of peer input, scholarly standards, and journal mission — supporting both rigor and constructive author engagement.
The author revises the manuscript in response to reviewer and editor feedback.
Behind the scenes:
The publisher’s system enables tracked changes, correspondence, and version control. In multi-round reviews, staff ensure reviewer continuity and policy compliance. Editorial teams may also mediate conflicting feedback or recommend further guidance to the author.
Why it matters: Publishers facilitate structured dialogue that strengthens the manuscript’s clarity and credibility.
The editor reviews the revised manuscript and makes a final decision on publication.
If accepted, the manuscript proceeds to production. If not, the author may submit it to another journal.
Once accepted, the paper enters production — where it is copyedited, typeset, and published online or in print. The publisher then works to ensure the article is discoverable, citable, and accessible to its intended audience.
Why is matters: A paper’s potential for impact depends not just on its quality, but also on its visibility and accessibility. Publisher workflows and metadata practices play a key role in ensuring that other scholars — and sometimes policymakers, clinicians, or the public — can find, read, and build on the work.
What is Peer Review?
How do we know research can be trusted? Peer review is the quality control system of scholarly publishing—experts evaluate work before it’s published to ensure accuracy, originality, and integrity.
Research Integrity & Ethics
Trust is built on ethical practice. Explore how research integrity is upheld, how misconduct is addressed, and how the scholarly community is adapting to new tools—and new threats.
Open Research
Open Research aims to make the research process more transparent and inclusive—from open data and open access to collaborative tools and reproducible methods.
Licensing & Publishing Policies
Licensing determines how published research can be accessed, shared, and reused. Explore the frameworks that guide this process—and why they matter.
The Future of Scholarly Publishing
Scholarly publishing is evolving fast—shaped by advances in AI, growing global participation, and the need for sustainable, equitable models. Discover how publishers are adapting to meet new challenges and opportunities in a changing research landscape.
Learn more about STM
STM is the leading global trade association for academic and professional publishers. Learn how we’re helping shape the future of trusted research and supporting innovation in scholarly communication.