Welcome to the April issue of COPE Digest.

COPE, like many organisations, is grappling with the impact of the coronavirus. There is worldwide concern over COVID-19 and its impact on our daily lives, both personal and professional. Journal editors may be unsure of what to do in this unprecedented situation. How is COVID-19 affecting editors and publishers?

Circumstances will differ for different regions, disciplines, journals and individuals. For some, COVID-19 brings more work while others find themselves with time to spare. Some journals will see increased submissions while others will see a drop. Many researchers may be operating almost normally; with more free time—often confined to home—researchers may take advantage to reflect on their work and may be busy writing and submitting papers. Some editors of health and social care journals are being called on for additional work duties and therefore have less time to run a journal. Outside the health field, the pressure may be lighter, but some will be struggling with adjustments in teaching and evaluation requirements. Some may find their time for journal work is constrained because they are parents of children who are now at home. Others are actively asking to receive more manuscripts as a distraction from COVID-19.

The important thing is to acknowledge the circumstances, and show understanding so that those who do have concerns will feel reassured. Simple acknowledgement can go a long way, followed by clarification that for many researchers worldwide it is close to business as usual. Fortunately, many editors can continue their job safely online, and now more than ever it is important to keep the scholarly community going, sharing knowledge, and ensuring papers continue to be submitted, reviewed and published. Some publishers have written a sensitive response to editors reflecting understanding and encouraging flexibility while, in turn, there are editors whose letters to authors have an attachment saying they understand that these are challenging times. It is important to have a sense of normality to the extent it is safe and sensible to do so.

ADVICE ON NEW CASES

WE'RE LOOKING FOR NEW TRUSTEES

• candidates with extensive experience and a proven record in open access publishing
• candidates with in depth knowledge and experience of working with monographs, books, conference proceedings, theses, etc.

WELCOME TO NEW COPE COUNCIL MEMBERS

• Eleanor Gendle, Executive Editor at The Institution of Engineering and Technology, UK
• Iain Hay, Matthew Flinders Distinguished Emeritus Professor of human geography in the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences, Flinders University, Australia
• Matt Hodgkinson, Head of Research Integrity, Hindawi, UK
• Ana Marusic, Editor, Journal of Global Health; Professor at School of Medicine, University of Split, Croatia
• Jigisha Patel, Independent research integrity consultant, UK
• Marie Soulière, Head of Publishing Operations, Frontiers, Switzerland

PUBLICATION ETHICS IN THE NEWS 

• In a study of gender bias in 145 journals in various areas of research, the authors show that in biomedicine and health women authors were treated generally favourably by editors and reviewers. This is in contrast to social science and humanity journals. The authors advocate for gender diversity among reviewers and editors to mitigate the perception and reality of bias. 
   
• Wellcome commissioned a review of research culture, including literature review, qualitative interviews and surveys. This report,"What Researchers Think About the Culture they work in" explores the findings.
   
• Fundamental characteristics of open science do not translate to "open humanities". Marcel Knöchelmann argues that researchers in the humanities should develop a unified voice and vision for open humanities, without which they will be vulnerable to top-down reforms.  
   
• As the Coronavirus pandemic further develops, the role of open science is coming to the fore: an editorial in Nature urged researchers to “keep sharing, stay open”. 

COPE Digest Editor: