Promotional communications sent on behalf of Athena: Journal of Social, Culture and Society must be relevant, accurate, appropriately targeted, and respectful of recipients’ communication preferences. Invitations must not misrepresent the journal or suggest that publication can be guaranteed.

This policy applies to promotional emails, newsletters, messaging-service broadcasts, and other communications directed to identifiable recipients. Examples include calls for papers, invitations to submit manuscripts, and announcements of journal issues or scholarly opportunities.

Correspondence necessary to manage an existing submission, review assignment, publication, or integrity concern is operational communication rather than direct marketing. It must not be used to conceal unrelated promotional messages.

Select recipients according to the subject of the communication, their relevant professional interests, and an appropriate basis for contact. Avoid indiscriminate distribution unrelated to the journal’s scope or the recipient’s work.

A publicly displayed email address, previous authorship, review service, or an OJS account does not by itself establish agreement to receive ongoing promotional messages. Where consent is required, it must be obtained before the relevant communication.

Promotional messaging applications must be used in accordance with recipient preferences and applicable platform requirements. Recipients must not be added to promotional groups without their agreement. Detailed collection, use, and retention of contact information are governed by the Privacy Statement.

Messages must identify Athena and the responsible sender, state their promotional purpose clearly, and provide a working reply or contact route. Use the journal’s official website for submission instructions and policy information.

• Describe the journal’s scope, publication arrangements, and review model accurately.
• Verify claims about indexing, accreditation, metrics, memberships, and institutional relationships. Distinguish an application or pending assessment from confirmed inclusion.
• Include a clear reference and link to the applicable author-fee policy when inviting submissions. Do not describe publication as free when a mandatory APC applies.
• Explain the eligibility and limitations of any genuine promotional discount or waiver without contradicting the published fee policy.
• Use genuine deadlines and avoid unsupported promises about review speed, publication dates, citations, or indexing outcomes.

Promotional messages must agree with the current official policies. If an error is identified, correct the communication and inform affected recipients where the error could materially influence their submission or payment decisions.

A call for papers or personal invitation is an invitation to submit for consideration. It does not constitute acceptance, a favourable review decision, or a reservation of publication.

Invited research manuscripts remain subject to the journal’s published editorial and double-anonymous peer-review arrangements. Senders must not promise that payment, personal contact, or a promotional offer will secure acceptance.

Detailed assessment procedures are provided under Peer Review. Financial terms remain on the APC / Publication Fees page, and safeguards against commercial influence remain under Editorial Independence.

Promotional contact must be proportionate and unobtrusive. Avoid repeated unsolicited reminders, duplicate campaigns, misleading urgency, and pressure following a recipient’s refusal. Failure to respond is not consent to increased contact.

Each direct promotional message must provide a straightforward way to decline future marketing, such as an unsubscribe link, a reply instruction, or a contact email. An automated unsubscribe facility is not required where a clear manual route is provided.

Honour opt-out requests promptly, without charge or a requirement to explain the decision. Record the preference sufficiently to prevent re-enrolment in the affected marketing list, including lists used by authorised representatives.

Marketing opt-out does not cancel an active submission or stop necessary operational correspondence. Declining promotional messages must not disadvantage an author, reviewer, or reader.

Journal campaigns must be approved by the editorial office or an authorised publisher representative, according to the communication’s subject. Academic and policy claims must be checked with the responsible journal authority.

Any person or service communicating on behalf of Athena must be authorised, identify that relationship accurately, follow approved wording, and respect recipient preferences. An editorial or reviewer title alone does not authorise an independent marketing campaign.

Suspected impersonation, unauthorised campaigns, or misleading claims should be reported for assessment. The journal may require correction or cessation of communications issued under its authority.