Journal Independence Charter

Neopte Journal of Applied Mobility (NJAM)

Effective Date: March 10, 2026

I. Statement of Independence

Although affiliated with the Neopte Foundation, the Neopte Journal of Applied Mobility (NJAM) operates with full editorial independence.

All editorial decisions are made without interference from:

  • The nonprofit’s Board of Directors

  • Donors

  • Sponsors

  • External stakeholders

  • Political or advocacy organizations

Scholarly merit is the sole determinant of publication.

II. Separation of Governance and Editorial Authority

  1. The nonprofit’s Board of Directors has no authority over:

    • Manuscript decisions

    • Reviewer selection

    • Editorial content

    • Acceptance or rejection outcomes

  2. Financial support from the nonprofit does not confer editorial influence.

  3. The Editor-in-Chief reports administratively for budgeting purposes only and retains complete intellectual control over content.

III. Protection Against Undue Influence

The Journal prohibits:

  • Donor-directed publication decisions

  • Preferential treatment of affiliated authors

  • Suppression of findings inconsistent with nonprofit positions

  • Editorial decisions influenced by political or ideological considerations

Any attempt at interference must be disclosed to the Advisory Council and documented.

IV. Conflict of Interest Policy

All editors and board members must:

  • Disclose financial, institutional, or personal conflicts

  • Recuse themselves when appropriate

  • Avoid handling manuscripts from close collaborators, students, or institutional colleagues

The Editor-in-Chief shall reassign conflicted manuscripts.

V. Transparency

The Journal will publicly post:

  • Governance structure

  • Editorial independence statement

  • Conflict of interest policy

  • Peer review process description

Transparency reinforces credibility and indexing readiness.

VI. Appeals and Complaints

Authors may submit formal appeals regarding:

  • Alleged procedural irregularities

  • Conflict-of-interest concerns

  • Ethical issues

Appeals are reviewed by the Editor-in-Chief and, where appropriate, an uninvolved Associate Editor or Advisory Council member.

VII. Academic Freedom

The Journal supports:

  • Publication of findings regardless of political sensitivity

  • Methodological diversity

  • Intellectual disagreement within civil academic norms

No research shall be rejected solely because it challenges prevailing policy perspectives or nonprofit positions.

VIII. Annual Affirmation

All editorial leadership shall annually affirm commitment to:

  • Independence

  • Integrity

  • Fairness

  • Transparency