Launch a Journal — Professional

Overview

“We are not launching a departmental newsletter. We want authors to look at the site and the first issue and decide this is a journal worth submitting to.” Professional is for journals where the first impression matters and the editorial model is more than a default single-editor queue.

It includes everything in Foundation, and adds a custom identity, a workflow configured to your review model with roles and turnaround targets, the full policy suite, governance setup for the editorial board, and hands-on management of the first issue and public launch.

Who this is for: academic departments, professional associations and research groups launching a specialized journal expecting roughly 20–50 submissions a year initially, and journals that need to be indexing-ready as early as their history allows.

What’s Included

• Everything in Foundation — OJS setup (hosted, own servers or build-operate-transfer), ISSN administration, DOI infrastructure, editor training, indexing roadmap
• Custom identity — logo with variants, color palette, typography, article template and cover template
• Custom public frontend — a responsive OJS theme aligned with the identity, beyond the standard theme
• Configured editorial workflow — single-blind, double-blind or open review, section and role structure, decision options, reminders and correspondence templates set to your model
• Extended policy suite — editorial policies, ethics statement, author and reviewer guidelines, copyright and licensing framework and author agreement, aligned with COPE and DOAJ
• Editorial board governance setup — role descriptions, terms, expectations, invitation templates and a board page with consent and affiliation confirmation procedure
• Digital preservation configuration — PKP Preservation Network or LOCKSS
• First-issue and launch management — call for papers, issue planning, production of the first issue in the new template, launch announcement
• Dedicated project manager, 2-hour editor training and three months of post-launch technical support

How It Works

What Stays With Your Editors

The journal’s editors keep final authority over reviewer selection, editorial assessment and acceptance, and over every board appointment. NeucitePress runs the build, design, policy, registration and launch process.

Important Limitations

• Hosting is separate: NeucitePress hosting at $400 per year, or your own servers.
• The price shown is NeucitePress’s professional fee. Fees charged by external organizations, including ISSN center fees, Crossref’s membership and per-DOI fees, and preservation network fees, are separate and passed through at cost.
• Indexing applications are not included; every database requires publishing history. The roadmap sets the dates. Inclusion is decided solely by each database.
• Content and peer review are the journal’s; NeucitePress manages the first issue’s production and launch, not its editorial decisions.
• Support beyond three months at $300 per month. One journal.

Common Questions

What is the difference from Foundation?
Foundation is template-based with essential policies. Professional adds the custom identity and frontend, a workflow configured to your model, the extended policy suite, board governance and first-issue and launch management.

Do you recruit the editorial board?
Professional sets up the governance and invitation materials. Hands-on candidate search and outreach is the Editorial Board Renewal & Management service.

What if we need ongoing editorial operations after launch?
Many clients move to the Managed Editorial Office after the first issue.

Every engagement can begin with the Journal Health Check.