Editorial process overview
From 1 April 2023 editorial functions will be gradually consolidated on the Central Editorial Service EM site. If you find some of the actions listed here are no longer available to you, please contact Cochrane Support.
Editorial process from initial title proposal through to publication
| Review stage and actions | Where can I find this on my Main Menu? | Where can I learn more? |
|---|---|---|
| Potential author submits Expression of Interest to Central EM site | - | Proposals for new reviews or updates |
Receive invitation from Proposal Manager to participate in Discussion to evaluate proposal | - | Proposals for new Cochrane Reviews: editorial management |
| Interested? Respond to Discussion to say your group will take support the authors in developing the protocol | - | |
Protocol created in RevMan and Archie | ||
| Check author roles show correctly | - | |
| Send Email on Proposal Action menu to ask CIS to complete Preliminary search for topic refinement and Protocol search tasks (if not assigned as tasks on submitted Review Proposal) | - | Ad hoc emails |
| Authors begin work in RevMan | ||
| (Optional) Authors seek editorial input pre-submission > editorial team check work in RevMan and correspond with authors via EM email > Send Email on Action menu | Ad hoc emails | |
| Authors submit first draft | Direct-to-Editor New Submissions | |
| Assign Editor | Assign Editor | |
| Assign Editorial Task > ME Submission Check and complete any other internal quality checks | Tasks Tab > Submission Tasks Assigned to Me | Editorial checks |
| Need another internal opinion? Discussion - ask for input from at least one editor | Submissions with Active Discussions | Discussions |
| Assign Editorial Task > PICO Annotation and Check References | Information Specialist tasks | |
| Not ready for peer review?* Submit Editor's Decision and Comments > Major / Minor Revision / Reject | Submissions out for Revision | Notify authors of editorial decisions |
| Ready for peer review?* Invite Reviewers | Submissions Requiring Additional Reviewers Submissions Under Review Submissions with one or more Late Reviews Submissions with Required Reviews Complete | Invite comments from editors or peer reviewers |
| Peer review comments complete? Ask an editor to review comments | Submissions with Required Reviews Complete | |
| Ready for author revisions?* Submit Editor’s Decisions and Comments > Major/Minor Revision to return comments to authors | Submissions with Required Reviews Complete | Editorial decision following peer review |
| Authors submit revised draft | Direct-to-Editor Revised Submissions | |
| Assign Editor | Assign Editor | |
| Assign Editorial Task > ME Revision Check | Tasks Tab > Submission Tasks Assigned to Me | Editorial checks |
| No more changes needed?* Assign Editorial Task > ME acceptance check | Direct-to-Editor Revised Submissions | Notify authors of editorial decisions |
| Ready to sign-off?* Assign to Sign-Off Editor | Accept content for publication | |
| Submit Editor's Decision and Comments > Accept | Submissions with Editor's Decision > Accept | Sign-Off Editor tasks |
| Assign Editorial Task >Review search tasks | Tasks Tab > Submission Tasks I Assigned | |
| Complete Transmittal Form and Initiate Production to move to copy-edit | Submissions with Final Disposition > Accept | Copy edit and publication (production) |
| Solicit Commentary to assign authors to begin work on review and move to Authoring phase in Archie | My Submissions with Pending Commentaries | Solicit commentary |
| Protocol published | ||
| Send Email on Proposal Action menu to ask CIS to complete Review search task (if not assigned as task on submitted Protocol) | My Submissions with Pending Commentaries | Information Specialist tasks |
| Repeat steps above shown in pale blue at review stage | ||
| If review development is > 12 months, Send Email on Proposal Action menu to ask CIS to complete top-up search task | My Submissions with Pending Commentaries | Information Specialist tasks |
| Review published | ||
| Review suitable for updating? | Submissions with Final Disposition > Accept | |
| Pre-update Declaration of Interest check | Request DoI from Convey | |
| Solicit Commentary to assign authors to begin work on update and move to Authoring phase in Archie | My Submissions with Pending Commentaries | Solicit commentary |
| Send Email on Proposal Action menu to ask CIS to complete Update search task | Assign an editorial task | |
| Repeat steps above shown in pale blue at update stage | ||
| If update development is > 12 months, Send Email on Proposal Action menu to ask CIS to complete top-up search task | My Submissions with Pending Commentaries | Information Specialist tasks |
| Update published | ||
*Not ready for next stage? As above, Submit Editor’s Decision and Comments > Major/Minor Revision to send the review back to authors for further changes.
It is best practice to limit the number of rounds of revision. If authors are not responding adequately to comments, editors can consider rejection in line with Cochrane’s Rejection Policy.
Editorial process for each round of revisions in EM
