Some guest editors pack special issues with their own articles: Thousands have penned more than one-third of a journal issue, raising conflict-of-interest concerns.

The article discusses concerns regarding the potential abuse of power by guest editors in scientific publishing, particularly their tendency to publish a significant number of their own papers in special journal issues. A study found that in 13% of special issues, guest editors authored more than one-third of the papers, raising conflict-of-interest issues and suggesting a form of academic misconduct termed "publishing in support of self" (PISS). The analysis, which examined nearly 1 million articles from five major publishers, highlighted that while most guest editors adhere to guidelines, the publishing model may incentivize subpar peer review. Despite these concerns, the prevalence of guest editor-authored papers appears to be declining, indicating some publishers are taking steps to address the issue. [Extracted from the article]