Manuscript editors occupy a unique space in academic publishing: We work behind the scenes, yet our decisions can have lasting effects on the integrity of the scholarly record. This webinar explores three of the most pressing ethical challenges manuscript editors encounter when working with researchers and publishers in STEM fields: authorship, plagiarism, and editorial use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI).

We’ll start with authorship: how to recognize signs of ghost or guest authorship and how the CRediT framework can help clarify roles. Next, we’ll look at different forms of plagiarism, acceptable and unacceptable applications of text recycling, and strategies for addressing these issues with authors. Finally, we’ll discuss how GenAI can be used responsibly in the editing process and key concerns around disclosure and data security.

The session concludes with a Q&A and resource-sharing segment, including handouts, checklists, and curated ethical guidelines to support your editorial practice. Whether you are new to academic editing or experienced in navigating sensitive conversations with authors, this one-hour webinar will provide practical tools and frameworks to help you uphold high ethical standards while maintaining constructive professional relationships.

Leslie Elizabeth Parker (she/her) is a board-certified Editor in the Life Sciences (ELS) with 20 years of experience in scholarly publishing. As a Production Editor at Annual Reviews, she managed peer review, copyedited STEM journals, and developed publication ethics policies adopted by 50 peer-reviewed journals. She serves on the Exam Development Committee for the Board of Editors in the Life Sciences (BELS) and has completed the Council of Science Editors’ short courses on publication ethics and DEI, with a focus on reducing bias in language. She is especially interested in conscious language and helping editors navigate ethical challenges with clarity and confidence.