Privacy Statement

Journal of the West is committed to protecting the privacy and personal information of authors, reviewers, editors, and readers. This Privacy Policy explains how personal data is collected, used, stored, and protected in the course of the journal’s academic publishing activities.

Information Collected
The journal collects personal information only when it is necessary for editorial and publishing purposes. This may include:
Names and institutional affiliations
Email addresses and contact details
ORCID iDs (where provided)
Manuscript-related information submitted by authors
Reviewer details and correspondence related to peer review

This information is collected during manuscript submission, peer review, editorial communication, and publication.

Use of Personal Information
Personal data collected by the journal is used exclusively for scholarly and administrative purposes, including:
Managing manuscript submissions and peer review
Communicating editorial decisions and publication updates
Maintaining academic records and publication metadata
Ensuring the integrity and transparency of the editorial process

Personal information is not used for commercial purposes and is not shared with third parties except where required for publication, indexing, or legal compliance.

Confidentiality and Peer Review
All submitted manuscripts are treated as confidential documents. Information related to authors and reviewers is accessible only to the editorial team and assigned reviewers and is used strictly within the context of the peer review process.
Reviewer identities are protected in accordance with the journal’s blind peer review policy.

Data Storage and Security
The journal takes reasonable technical and administrative measures to safeguard personal information against unauthorized access, loss, misuse, or disclosure. Personal data is stored securely and retained only for as long as necessary to fulfill editorial, legal, and academic record-keeping requirements.

Cookies and Website Analytics
The journal website may use basic cookies or analytics tools to improve functionality and user experience. These tools do not collect personally identifiable information and are used solely for performance monitoring and site optimization.

Third-Party Links
The journal website may contain links to external websites or services. Journal of the West is not responsible for the privacy practices or content of third-party sites. Users are encouraged to review the privacy policies of those external services independently.

Author and Reviewer Rights
Authors and reviewers have the right to:
Request access to their personal data held by the journal
Request correction of inaccurate or outdated information
Request deletion of personal data where appropriate and legally permissibl
Such requests may be made by contacting the editorial office.

Changes to This Policy
The journal reserves the right to update or revise this Privacy Policy as necessary. Any changes will be reflected on the journal website, and continued use of the journal’s services implies acceptance of the updated policy.

Contact
Questions or concerns regarding privacy or data protection should be directed to the journal’s editorial office through the official contact details provided on the journal website.