How to check the review and publication policies of a journal?

To verify journal review and publication policies, consult the specific journal's official website and closely examine sections designated for authors, primarily the "Instructions for Authors," "Author Guidelines," or "Policies" sections. This process involves identifying the peer review model (e.g., single-blind, double-blind, open), ethical guidelines (e.g., COPE compliance, authorship criteria, conflict of interest disclosures), open access policies (if applicable, including any associated Article Processing Charges - APCs), copyright transfer or licensing agreements (like Creative Commons licenses), and typical submission-to-decision/decision-to-publication timeframes. Careful attention must also be paid to specific formatting requirements, scope definitions to ensure manuscript fit, and any mandatory reporting standards relevant to the field. Locate the target journal's homepage, usually via its publisher's platform or databases, and navigate directly to its author information section; key policy details, including review procedures, publication ethics, and access models, are explicitly stated there. Should journal website navigation prove challenging, utilize reputable directories such as Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) or platforms like Sherpa Romeo, which consolidate open access policies. Always review these policies thoroughly before manuscript submission to ensure alignment with requirements and expectations.