Privacy Statement

Journal of Catalan Studies (JOCS) - Privacy Statement

The Journal of Catalan Studies (JOCS) is committed to protecting the privacy and personal data of its authors, reviewers, editors, and readers. This Privacy Statement outlines how we collect, use, and protect personal information in compliance with applicable data protection regulations, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). 

  1. Information We Collect

We collect and store personal information necessary for the functioning of our journal. This information includes:

  • Authors: Full name, affiliation, email address, and other contact details provided during manuscript submission and the peer review process.
  • Reviewers: Full name, affiliation, email address, and contact information provided when agreeing to review manuscripts.
  • Editors: Full name, affiliation, and contact details for editorial correspondence and management of the review process.
  • Readers: Information voluntarily provided by readers who sign up for newsletters, alerts, or other forms of communication.

We also collect non-personally identifiable information such as IP addresses, browser types, and access times through our website for analytical purposes and to enhance the user experience.

  1. Use of Personal Information

The personal information collected by JOCS is used solely for the purposes related to the publication and dissemination of academic work. These purposes include:

  • For Authors:
    • Managing manuscript submissions, peer review processes, and editorial decisions.
    • Communicating with authors regarding their submission, including acceptance, revisions, or rejections.
    • Publishing author information, such as name and institutional affiliation, alongside accepted articles.
  • For Reviewers:
    • Managing the peer review process, including inviting, assigning, and communicating with reviewers.
    • Acknowledging the contribution of reviewers, where applicable, either anonymously or with their consent.
  • For Editors:
    • Managing the editorial workflow, including communications related to the journal’s operation, peer review processes, and decision-making on submitted manuscripts.
  • For Readers:
    • Providing updates, newsletters, and notifications for those who have opted in for such communications.
    • Enhancing the website experience through analytics and tracking features, which use non-identifiable data.

We do not share personal data with third parties unless required for journal operations (e.g., external manuscript management platforms) or mandated by law.

  1. Data Retention

Personal data is retained only for as long as it is necessary to fulfil the purpose for which it was collected. For example:

  • Data related to submitted manuscripts will be kept for the duration of the peer review process and archived with the published article.
  • Reviewers' data will be stored for record-keeping and acknowledgment of review contributions.
  • Editors' contact details will be stored for the duration of their editorial role within the journal.

If you request deletion of your personal data, it will be removed from our system, unless legally required to retain it.

  1. Data Security

We are committed to ensuring that your personal information is secure. We implement suitable physical, electronic, and managerial procedures to safeguard and secure the data we collect online. These include:

  • Restricted access to personal data, allowing only authorized personnel to access it.
  • Regular security updates and monitoring of our online platform to prevent unauthorized access, breaches, or cyberattacks.
  1. Cookies

Our website uses cookies to enhance the user experience. Cookies are small files stored on your device that help track user preferences and activity. The information collected by cookies is non-personally identifiable.

Users can manage or disable cookies in their web browser settings, though this may affect their ability to access certain features on our site.

  1. Third-Party Services

In some cases, we may use third-party services to assist with the operation of our website, manuscript submission platform, or communication. These third parties are contractually obligated to protect your personal data and comply with relevant data protection laws.

Third-party services we may use include:

  • Manuscript submission and peer review management systems.
  • Email service providers for newsletters and communications.
  • Website analytics providers to track and enhance the user experience.

These third parties will only receive the necessary data to perform their services and are not permitted to use your data for any other purpose.

  1. Your Rights

You have the following rights concerning your personal data:

  • Right to Access: You can request access to the personal information we hold about you.
  • Right to Rectification: You can request corrections to any inaccurate or incomplete data.
  • Right to Erasure: You can request the deletion of your personal data, provided it is not required for legal purposes or the operation of the journal.
  • Right to Data Portability: You can request that your data be transferred to another organization or entity in a commonly used format.
  • Right to Object: You can object to the processing of your personal data in certain circumstances.
  • Right to Withdraw Consent: If your personal data is being processed based on your consent, you have the right to withdraw that consent at any time.
  • To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at [rhiannon.mcglade@strath.ac.uk]. We will respond to your request within a reasonable timeframe, in accordance with applicable regulations.
  1. Changes to This Privacy Statement

JOCS reserves the right to update this Privacy Statement as necessary to reflect any changes in our practices or in compliance with legal requirements. Any changes will be promptly communicated via our website, and the effective date of the updated policy will be clearly stated.

  1. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests related to this Privacy Statement or how your personal data is handled, please contact us at:

Email: rhiannon.mcglade@strath.ac.uk
Postal Address:

University of Strathclyde,
School of Humanities (Spanish)
Lord Hope Building, Level 4
141 St James Road
Glasgow G4 0LT