Advertising Policy

1. Policy statement

IJoDS is an open access journal. Advertising, if accepted, must be consistent with the journal’s mission, lawful, and non-misleading. Advertising must never influence editorial decisions, peer review, or publication outcomes.

At present, IJoDS does not run commercial advertising by default. If advertising is introduced, this policy will apply in full.

2. Scope and definitions

Advertising includes any paid or in-kind content intended to promote a product, service, event, organization, or message, whether displayed on the journal website, in email communications, in PDFs, or in social media posts controlled by the journal.

This policy applies to:

  • Website banners, sidebars, pop-ups, and sponsored placements

  • Sponsored announcements or “partner” posts

  • Advertisements included in article PDFs or issue PDFs

  • Promotional inserts in journal email communications

3. Separation from editorial decision making

Advertising is kept strictly separate from editorial and peer review processes.

  • Editors and reviewers do not participate in advertising negotiations or approvals.

  • Advertising status, payment, or sponsorship does not affect acceptance, rejection, review timelines, or editorial handling.

  • Advertisers do not receive access to reviewer identities, editorial correspondence, or submission information.

4. Acceptable advertising

If advertising is permitted, IJoDS may consider adverts that are relevant to the journal’s scope and readership, such as:

  • Academic conferences and seminars

  • Books, journals, and scholarly resources

  • Research tools and software (non-deceptive claims only)

  • Training programs and educational opportunities

  • Institutional announcements (for example, calls for papers) where clearly labeled

All adverts must be accurate and must not exaggerate claims or misrepresent evidence.

5. Prohibited advertising

IJoDS will not accept advertising that:

  • Is misleading, deceptive, or unverifiable

  • Conflicts with research integrity (for example, predatory publishing services)

  • Promotes plagiarism, contract cheating, paper mills, falsification, or manipulation services

  • Contains discriminatory, hateful, harassing, or violent content

  • Violates applicable laws or regulations

  • Attempts to mimic editorial content (native ads) without clear labeling

IJoDS also reserves the right to reject any advert that may reasonably harm readers, authors, or the integrity of the journal.

6. Placement and labeling

If adverts are displayed, IJoDS will ensure:

  • Clear labeling, such as “Advertisement” or “Sponsored”

  • Visual separation from editorial content (articles, editorials, and peer review information)

  • No advert placement that could be interpreted as endorsement of specific research findings

Ads will not be placed within peer review policy pages, author guidelines, or other research integrity policy pages in a way that confuses readers.

7. Targeting, tracking, and reader data

IJoDS does not sell personal data to advertisers.

If the journal ever uses advertising that involves tracking (for example, third-party ad networks), the journal will:

  • Disclose it clearly on the website

  • Provide information on what data is collected and for what purpose

  • Comply with applicable privacy requirements

  • Provide a reasonable option to limit tracking where feasible

By default, IJoDS prefers non-targeted placements. Any targeting based on reader behavior requires explicit disclosure.

8. Approval process and responsibilities

Advertising decisions are made by the journal’s management/publisher function, not by handling editors of manuscripts.

  • The journal may request supporting documentation for factual claims.

  • The journal may suspend or remove adverts that later appear misleading or non-compliant.

  • The journal may set limits on advert volume and frequency.

9. Complaints and removal

Readers, authors, and other stakeholders may submit complaints about adverts.

IJoDS will review complaints and may:

  • Request clarification or evidence from the advertiser

  • Modify labeling or placement

  • Remove the advert immediately if it is misleading, harmful, or inconsistent with this policy

10. Policy updates

This policy may be updated to reflect changes in journal operations. The current version on the website is the controlling version.

11. Contact

For questions or complaints about advertising, contact the editorial office via the journal contact page.