Peer Review at Reality Herald
Reality Herald may publish a distinct class of scholarly articles that undergo formal peer review. The peer-reviewed designation will apply only to articles that complete the process described here.
A distinct scholarly track
Reality Herald as a whole is not a peer-reviewed academic journal. News, commentary, essays, reviews, and other editorial material may be published through ordinary editorial review.
Only an article explicitly labeled Peer Reviewed will represent work that completed the formal scholarly review process.
The initial scholarly focus will include Christian legal thought and scholarly responses to legal arguments or legal scholars, whether those scholars are Christian or non-Christian.
Double-anonymous review
- Editorial screening. The editor first determines whether the manuscript fits Reality Herald’s scholarly scope and meets basic standards of argument, sourcing, and presentation.
- Anonymization. Author-identifying information is removed from the manuscript sent for external review.
- Two independent reviewers. The editor seeks two reviewers with relevant subject expertise.
- Written evaluations. Reviewers assess the manuscript’s argument, evidence, engagement with relevant scholarship, accuracy, originality, and suitability for publication.
- Revision when appropriate. The author receives anonymized reviewer comments and may be asked to revise and respond.
- Editorial decision. The editor makes the final publication decision after considering the reviews and any revision.
Reviewers and compensation
Peer reviewers will ordinarily serve without payment, following common academic practice. Reality Herald will ask reviewers to accept assignments voluntarily and only within areas in which they have relevant expertise.
Potential reviewers may include university faculty, independent scholars with relevant publications, legal scholars, historians, thinkers, theologians, or other qualified specialists whose expertise matches the manuscript.
Reviewers must disclose conflicts of interest and decline assignments when personal, professional, financial, institutional, or close collaborative relationships could compromise independent judgment.
Possible decisions
Editorial independence and transparency
Peer review informs the editorial decision but does not transfer editorial responsibility to reviewers. Reviewers recommend; the editor decides.
Reality Herald will not describe an article as peer reviewed merely because an editor or knowledgeable colleague read it. The label will require external scholarly review under the process above.
Articles completing peer review will carry a visible Peer Reviewed designation and may include the dates of submission, acceptance, and publication.