By Divya Jyoti Munjal
A manuscript is submitted to an open access journal. What happens next?
Does it follow a different editorial route because the article will eventually be freely available to readers?
Not when it comes to peer review.
The exact process varies across journals, but manuscripts submitted to open access journals undergo editorial assessment and peer review, followed by revision where required, before a final editorial decision is made.
Let us look at what typically happens from submission to publication.
Editorial assessment
The process usually begins much like it does for a subscription journal. Once a manuscript is submitted, the editorial office may carry out preliminary checks. These can include checking whether the required files and information have been provided and whether basic submission requirements have been followed. The manuscript then moves to editorial assessment.
At this stage, an editor considers whether the manuscript is suitable for the journal and whether it should proceed to external peer review. A manuscript that is not considered suitable may be rejected without being sent to reviewers.
How does peer review work in an open access journal?
If the manuscript is considered suitable for peer review, reviewers are identified and invited. Those who accept the invitation evaluate the manuscript and provide their comments and recommendations. Depending on the journal and type of peer review followed, the identities of the authors, reviewers, or both may or may not be disclosed.
The editor considers the reviewers’ feedback along with their own assessment of the manuscript before deciding what should happen next.
The decision may involve revision, acceptance, or rejection.
What happens when revisions are requested?
Peer review often results in requests for revision. Authors may be asked to clarify parts of the manuscript, provide additional information, address concerns raised by reviewers, or make other changes.
The revised manuscript is then assessed again. Depending on the nature of the revisions and the journal’s process, it may return to the reviewers or be evaluated by the editor.
There may be more than one round of revision before a final decision is made.
What happens after an open access article is accepted?
Acceptance marks the end of the editorial decision-making process, but it is not the end of the publication process.
The accepted manuscript moves into production. If an Article Processing Charge (APC) applies, it needs to be paid before the article is published. The payment may be made by the author, institution, funder, or another eligible source, depending on the journal and the funding arrangement. The author may also need to complete other open access requirements, such as confirming the publishing license.
Depending on the journal and publisher, the production process may include file preparation, copyediting, typesetting, author proof review and resolution of copyediting queries, proof corrections, and final publication checks.
Once the required production and open access formalities are complete, the article is ready for publication.
Does paying an APC guarantee acceptance?
An APC should not be seen as a payment for acceptance. Where applicable, it relates to the open access publication of an accepted article. It does not replace editorial assessment or peer review.
Authors should therefore be cautious about any journal that suggests that payment itself guarantees publication.
Conclusion
The fact that an article will be published open access does not make peer review less important. The manuscript still needs to meet the journal’s requirements before it can be accepted for publication.
For authors, the important point is simple: open access affects how the published research is accessed, not whether the manuscript needs to go through editorial and peer-review processes.