Complaints and Appeals

Authors, reviewers, readers, and members of the public may raise concerns about any aspect of Insight's editorial process, an individual editorial decision, or the conduct of an editor, reviewer, or author.

Step 1 — Direct contact

Send the complaint or appeal in writing to the Editor-in-Chief at the contact address on the Contact page. Include the manuscript or article identifier, a clear statement of the issue, and any supporting evidence. A written acknowledgement is sent within five working days.

Step 2 — Investigation

The Editor-in-Chief reviews the case. Where the Editor-in-Chief has a conflict of interest, the case is delegated to an independent editor or external advisor. The investigation follows the relevant COPE flowchart. A substantive response is provided within thirty working days.

Step 3 — External escalation

If the complainant remains dissatisfied, the case may be escalated to COPE or to an independent ombudsperson agreed in advance.

No reprisals are taken against complainants acting in good faith.