Directive Principles of Mediterranean Journal of Humanities (MJH) (25. 01. 2021)
SECTION ONE
Aim
Article 1–
(1) This directive regulates the procedures and the principles relating to the aims, areas of activity, committees, the duties of the committees, the manner of working, scientific ethics and the time periods of Mediterranean Journal of Humanities (eISSN: 2148-144X) which is published by a group of idealist academics at the Akdeniz University.Legal Basis
Scope
Article 2 –
(1) This regulation covers the fundamental provisions regarding the objectives, fields of activity, committees, duties of the committees, working principles, scientific ethics, and duration of the Mediterranean Journal of Humanities (MJH).
(2) The Mediterranean Journal of Humanities is published twice a year (June and December) in electronic format, as an “International Peer-Reviewed Journal indexed by International Databases.” Founded in 2011, the journal is indexed in both national and international databases such as ULAKBİM and Index Copernicus.
(3) No fees are charged for accepted articles or editorial evaluations.
(4) The journal operates without any financial or institutional conflict of interest.
(5) The journal is published by a group of academics affiliated with Akdeniz University Faculty of Letters.
(6) It is open access and free of charge.
(7) It is not sold commercially.
Legal Basis
Article 3 –
Pursuant to Articles 4, 5, 6, and 7 of Press Law No. 5187.
Definitions
Article 4 –
(1) In this regulation:
a) Journal: Refers to the Mediterranean Journal of Humanities (MJH),
b) Publisher: Refers to the Publisher of MJH,
c) Editor-in-Chief: Refers to the Editor-in-Chief of MJH,
d) Editors: Refers to the Editors of MJH.
PART II
Aim of the Journal
Article 5 –
The scope of the journal covers theoretical, methodological, and applied studies in archaeology, history, philosophy, language and literature, geography, philology, gerontology, psychology, art history, and sociology, with a primary focus on Mediterranean culture. Special emphasis is given to research addressing the cultures, societies, and historical processes of the Mediterranean basin and its surrounding regions. However, comparative and interdisciplinary studies from different geographical and cultural contexts are also welcomed.
The journal aims to serve as an interdisciplinary platform for discussion among scholars, researchers, and specialists.
Content of the Journal
Article 6 –
(1) MJH is an international, interdisciplinary, and peer-reviewed journal publishing articles in Turkish and English, German.
(2) Submissions to MJH must meet at least one of the following criteria:
a) Be an original study employing appropriate research methods and models that fills a gap in the field,
b) Be an evaluative or critical study of previously published work, presenting new and noteworthy perspectives,
c) Provide an original assessment of conceptual, methodological, and/or theoretical approaches.
(3) Articles submitted for peer review must not have been published elsewhere previously.
(4) Newly introduced artifacts within articles must not belong to private collections.
Organization and Structure
Article 7 –
The governing bodies of the journal are as follows:
a) Publisher and Duties
b) Editor-in-Chief and Duties
c) Editors and Duties
d) Advisory Board and Duties
e) Secretaries and Duties
f) Copyeditors and Duties
Duties and Terms of the Publisher
a) The official Publisher of the journal is the Dean of the Faculty of Letters, Akdeniz University.
b) This role is not subject to appointment, and the Publisher cannot be replaced unless by personal request.
Duties and Term of the Editor-in-Chief
Article 8 –
(1) The Editor-in-Chief is appointed from among faculty members deemed suitable based on criteria such as adherence to ethical standards, scholarly competence, and editorial experience, either by the incumbent or the most recent Editor-in-Chief.
(2) Only one Editor-in-Chief may serve at any given time.
(3) The Editor-in-Chief is primarily responsible for ensuring the regular conduct of all journal-related activities, overseeing operations, and ultimately, for the publication of the journal.
(4) Determines the editorial policies of the journal, in consultation with the editors.
(5) Ensures timely, scholarly, and technically accurate publication.
(6) Closely monitors all stages of the editorial process, ensuring that it is conducted swiftly, rigorously, and ethically.
(7) Reviews proposals for special issues, resolves operational matters, and convenes relevant committees when necessary to develop the vision of the journal.
(8) Conducts the initial evaluation of submitted manuscripts, determining their relevance to the journal’s scope and policies before initiating peer review or rejecting them outright.
(9) Reviews accepted manuscripts for scholarly validity, language, style, and formatting, or oversees such review by copyeditors.
(10) Appoints Editors, Associate Editors, and Field Editors, and may make changes in these roles as needed.
(11) Consults with editorial boards on policy decisions but retains final authority.
Duties and Terms of Editors and Associate Editors
(1) All editors are responsible for carrying out tasks under the working plan outlined by the Editor-in-Chief.
(2) They assist the Editor-in-Chief in ensuring the timely, ethical, and rigorous management of the editorial process.
(3) They deliberate on all issues concerning the scholarly flow and publication of the journal.
(4) Provide opinions and recommendations as necessary.
(5) Suggest reviewers for manuscripts deemed suitable for peer review within the journal’s scope.
(6) Participate in shaping editorial policies, workflow, publication principles, and formatting rules.
(7) No privileges are assigned among editors based on titles, positions, or ranks.
(8) Their term of service is determined by the Editor-in-Chief.
Duties of the Editorial Board
Article 10 –
(1) The Advisory Board supports the journal by helping identify appropriate reviewers, promoting the journal nationally and internationally, and advising on scholarly and technical matters.
(2) Offers recommendations to improve the quality and content of the journal.
(3) Facilitates the submission of qualified manuscripts.
(4) Members are selected from individuals with experience in the relevant fields covered by the journal, recognized for their academic integrity, and capable of elevating the journal to an international level.
(5) The Editor-in-Chief has authority over the selection and modification of the Advisory Board.
Duties of the Secretaries
Article 11 –
(1) Secretaries assist in coordinating the work of various committees, ensuring efficient communication across all units of the journal.
(2) They are responsible for managing correspondence sent to the journal’s official email address (mjh@akdeniz.edu.tr) and for answering phone calls.
(3) They handle filing, photocopying, and other administrative tasks, ensuring they are completed on time, accurately, and transparently.
(4) They send periodic reminders to reviewers who have not submitted reports and to authors who delay required revisions.
(5) The appointment and changes of secretaries are at the discretion of the Editor-in-Chief.
Duties and Terms of the Copyeditors
Article 12 –
(1) Copyeditors are selected from individuals proficient in the languages in which the journal is published.
(2) They review accepted manuscripts for spelling, grammar, and adherence to journal style.
(3) Responsible for preparing abstracts and revising translations.
(4) Appointments and terms of copyeditors are determined by the Editor-in-Chief.
Duties of the Publishing Editors
Article 13 –
(1) Publishing Editors are responsible for the technical preparation of journal issues.
(2) They ensure the timely preparation of accepted manuscripts and inform the Editor-in-Chief of any problems or solutions that might delay publication.
(3) They update the journal’s website.
(4) They manage updates in the databases where the journal is indexed and oversee applications to new databases.
(5) Appointment and terms of Publishing Editors are determined by the Editor-in-Chief.
PART III
Article Acceptance, Publication Stages, and Academic Ethics Committees
Article 14 –
(1) Articles submitted to the journal must be original, methodologically sound, presenting new findings and approaches, or analytical reviews offering significant perspectives on previously published works.
(2) Submitted manuscripts must not have been previously published elsewhere, nor under review for publication in another journal or book.
(3) Submissions must conform to the journal’s formatting and writing guidelines.
(4) Responsibility for the scientific and linguistic content of published articles rests with the authors.
(5) All articles are open access and may be used with proper citation.
(6) No fees are charged at any stage of the submission or publication process.
Publishing Principles
Enforcement and Execution
Article 15 –
(1) This Regulation comes into effect upon approval by the Publisher of the Mediterranean Journal of Humanities. It can only be repealed by decision of the Publisher.
(2) The Publisher authorizes the Editor-in-Chief and the editorial team to manage the editorial workflow and publishing process in a scientifically rigorous manner.
(3) Overall responsibility for the journal’s management lies with the Editor-in-Chief on behalf of the Publisher.
(4) The journal is an independent, scholarly, and open-access publication; its operation and management fall under the responsibility of the Editor-in-Chief.
Article 16 –
(1) The provisions of this Regulation are executed jointly by the Publisher (Dean of the Faculty of Letters) and the Editor-in-Chief.
(2) This Regulation is published on the official website of the journal.