Conflict of Interest Policy
ACDM · Arts, Communication & Digital Media
Purpose of the Policy
ACDM is committed to maintaining the highest standards of transparency, objectivity, and integrity in the publication process. A conflict of interest (COI) occurs when an author, reviewer, or editor has financial, personal, or professional relationships that could influence or be perceived to influence their actions or decisions. This policy outlines the disclosure and handling of such conflicts.
Definition & Examples
A conflict of interest exists when an individual has a competing interest that could improperly influence (or appear to influence) their responsibilities in the research or publication process. Conflicts may be financial or non-financial.
- Receiving research funding from a commercial entity related to the manuscript
- Holding stocks, patents, or consulting arrangements with an interested organization
- Personal relationships (family, close colleagues) with any author
- Previous academic disputes or competitive collaborations
Author Disclosure Requirements
All authors must declare any potential conflicts of interest at the time of submission. A statement should be included in the manuscript under a separate heading (e.g., "Conflict of Interest Statement") and also entered into the submission system's metadata field.
Recommended wording (no conflict): “The authors declare no competing interests.”
If a conflict exists: “The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: [describe].”
Failure to disclose a relevant conflict may lead to rejection or, if discovered after publication, a correction or retraction.
Reviewer Responsibilities
Reviewers invited to assess a manuscript must recuse themselves if they have any conflict of interest with the authors, their institutions, or the research topic. Reviewers should notify the editorial office immediately upon becoming aware of a conflict and decline the invitation. If a conflict arises after accepting the review, the reviewer must withdraw and inform the editor.
Editorial Handling of Conflicts
Editors and editorial board members are also required to declare conflicts. If an editor is a co‑author or has a personal relationship with the authors, they will be excluded from the peer review and decision process for that manuscript. An alternative handling editor will be assigned. All such cases are documented to ensure transparency.
Management & Resolution
When a conflict of interest is declared, the editorial office will assess whether it could bias the evaluation. Minor or non‑relevant conflicts may simply be disclosed; significant conflicts will lead to recusal of the involved party. In case of suspected undisclosed conflicts, ACDM will investigate following COPE guidelines, which may include contacting the authors’ institutions.
Policy Updates
This policy is reviewed annually and may be updated to reflect evolving best practices. The current version is always available on this page.
Last updated: May 2026. ACDM follows COPE guidelines.