diff --git a/classes/components/listPanels/PKPSelectReviewerListPanel.php b/classes/components/listPanels/PKPSelectReviewerListPanel.php
index 8a3ff2054db..906dfbbbfcc 100644
--- a/classes/components/listPanels/PKPSelectReviewerListPanel.php
+++ b/classes/components/listPanels/PKPSelectReviewerListPanel.php
@@ -121,11 +121,17 @@ public function getConfig()
         ];
 
         if (!empty($this->lastRoundReviewers)) {
-            $config['lastRoundReviewers'] = Repo::user()
+            $reviewers = Repo::user()
                 ->getSchemaMap()
                 ->summarizeManyReviewers($this->lastRoundReviewers)
                 ->values()
                 ->toArray();
+            $contextId = $this->getParams['contextId'];
+            foreach ($reviewers as $key => $reviewer) {
+                $userPrivateNote = Repo::userPrivateNote()->getUserPrivateNote($reviewer->getId(), $contextId);
+                $reviewers[$key]['userPrivateNote'] = $userPrivateNote?->getNote();
+            }
+            $config['lastRoundReviewers'] = $reviewers;
         }
 
         if (!empty($this->getParams)) {
@@ -147,6 +153,7 @@ public function getConfig()
         $config['declinedReviewsLabel'] = __('reviewer.list.declinedReviews');
         $config['emptyLabel'] = __('reviewer.list.empty');
         $config['gossipLabel'] = __('user.gossip');
+        $config['userPrivateNotesLabel'] = __('user.private.notes');
         $config['neverAssignedLabel'] = __('reviewer.list.neverAssigned');
         $config['reassignLabel'] = __('reviewer.list.reassign');
         $config['reassignWithNameLabel'] = __('reviewer.list.reassign.withName');
@@ -172,8 +179,12 @@ public function getItems($request)
         $reviewers = $this->_getCollector()->getMany();
         $items = [];
         $map = Repo::user()->getSchemaMap();
+        $contextId = $request->getContext()->getId();
         foreach ($reviewers as $reviewer) {
-            $items[] = $map->summarizeReviewer($reviewer);
+            $item = $map->summarizeReviewer($reviewer);
+            $userPrivateNote = Repo::userPrivateNote()->getUserPrivateNote($reviewer->getId(), $contextId);
+            $item['userPrivateNote'] = $userPrivateNote?->getNote();
+            $items[] = $item;
         }
 
         return $items;
diff --git a/classes/controllers/grid/users/reviewer/PKPReviewerGridHandler.php b/classes/controllers/grid/users/reviewer/PKPReviewerGridHandler.php
index 31cb644e837..2beb2bb1189 100644
--- a/classes/controllers/grid/users/reviewer/PKPReviewerGridHandler.php
+++ b/classes/controllers/grid/users/reviewer/PKPReviewerGridHandler.php
@@ -1011,8 +1011,17 @@ public function gossip($args, $request)
             return new JSONMessage(false, __('user.authorization.roleBasedAccessDenied'));
         }
 
+        $userPrivateNote = Repo::userPrivateNote()->getUserPrivateNote($user->getId(), $request->getContext()->getId());
+        if (!$userPrivateNote) {
+            $userPrivateNote = Repo::userPrivateNote()->newDataObject([
+                'userId' => $user->getId(),
+                'contextId' => $request->getContext()->getId(),
+                'note' => ''
+            ]);
+        }
+
         $requestArgs = array_merge($this->getRequestArgs(), ['reviewAssignmentId' => $reviewAssignment->getId()]);
-        $reviewerGossipForm = new ReviewerGossipForm($user, $requestArgs);
+        $reviewerGossipForm = new ReviewerGossipForm($user, $userPrivateNote, $requestArgs);
 
         // View form
         if (!$request->isPost()) {
diff --git a/classes/facades/Repo.php b/classes/facades/Repo.php
index 6142f56b567..fcbaac2bd52 100644
--- a/classes/facades/Repo.php
+++ b/classes/facades/Repo.php
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@
 use PKP\log\event\Repository as EventLogRepository;
 use PKP\submissionFile\Repository as SubmissionFileRepository;
 use PKP\userGroup\Repository as UserGroupRepository;
+use PKP\userPrivateNote\Repository as UserPrivateNoteRepository;
 
 class Repo
 {
@@ -90,6 +91,11 @@ public static function userGroup(): UserGroupRepository
         return app(UserGroupRepository::class);
     }
 
+    public static function userPrivateNote(): UserPrivateNoteRepository
+    {
+        return app(UserPrivateNoteRepository::class);
+    }
+
     public static function eventLog(): EventLogRepository
     {
         return app(EventLogRepository::class);
diff --git a/classes/migration/install/UserPrivateNotesMigration.php b/classes/migration/install/UserPrivateNotesMigration.php
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..10f4b0b2a74
--- /dev/null
+++ b/classes/migration/install/UserPrivateNotesMigration.php
@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+<?php
+
+/**
+ * @file classes/migration/install/UserPrivateNotesMigration.php
+ *
+ * Copyright (c) 2014-2023 Simon Fraser University
+ * Copyright (c) 2000-2023 John Willinsky
+ * Distributed under the GNU GPL v3. For full terms see the file docs/COPYING.
+ *
+ * @class UserPrivateNotesMigration
+ *
+ * @brief Describe database table structure for user private notes
+ */
+
+namespace PKP\migration\install;
+
+use APP\core\Application;
+use APP\facades\Repo;
+use Illuminate\Database\Schema\Blueprint;
+use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Schema as Schema;
+use PKP\migration\Migration;
+
+class UserPrivateNotesMigration extends Migration
+{
+    /**
+     * Run the migrations.
+     */
+    public function up(): void
+    {
+        Schema::create('user_private_notes', function (Blueprint $table) {
+            $table->comment('User private notes are an addition to the gossip, but this one is private to each context.');
+            $table->bigInteger('user_private_note_id')->autoIncrement();
+
+            $table->bigInteger('context_id');
+            $contextDao = Application::getContextDAO();
+            $table->foreign('context_id')->references($contextDao->primaryKeyColumn)->on($contextDao->tableName)->onDelete('cascade');
+
+            $table->bigInteger('user_id');
+            $userDao = Repo::user()->dao;
+            $table->foreign('user_id')->references($userDao->primaryKeyColumn)->on($userDao->table)->onDelete('cascade');
+
+            $table->unique(['context_id', 'user_id'], 'user_private_notes_unique');
+            $table->index(['context_id'], 'user_private_notes_context_id_foreign');
+
+            $table->string('note')->default('');
+        });
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Reverse the migration.
+     */
+    public function down(): void
+    {
+        Schema::drop('user_private_notes');
+    }
+}
diff --git a/classes/migration/upgrade/v3_5_0/I9456_UserPrivateNotes.php b/classes/migration/upgrade/v3_5_0/I9456_UserPrivateNotes.php
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..09b350617a1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/classes/migration/upgrade/v3_5_0/I9456_UserPrivateNotes.php
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+<?php
+
+/**
+ * @file classes/migration/upgrade/v3_5_0/I9456_UserPrivateNotes.php
+ *
+ * Copyright (c) 2014-2023 Simon Fraser University
+ * Copyright (c) 2000-2023 John Willinsky
+ * Distributed under the GNU GPL v3. For full terms see the file docs/COPYING.
+ *
+ * @class I9456_UserPrivateNotes
+ */
+
+namespace PKP\migration\upgrade\v3_5_0;
+
+use APP\core\Application;
+use APP\facades\Repo;
+use Illuminate\Database\Schema\Blueprint;
+use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Schema;
+use PKP\migration\Migration;
+
+class I9456_UserPrivateNotes extends Migration
+{
+    /**
+     * Run the migrations.
+     */
+    public function up(): void
+    {
+        Schema::create('user_private_notes', function (Blueprint $table) {
+            $table->comment('User private notes are an addition to the gossip, but this one is private to each context.');
+            $table->bigInteger('user_private_note_id')->autoIncrement();
+
+            $table->bigInteger('context_id');
+            $contextDao = Application::getContextDAO();
+            $table->foreign('context_id')->references($contextDao->primaryKeyColumn)->on($contextDao->tableName)->onDelete('cascade');
+
+            $table->bigInteger('user_id');
+            $userDao = Repo::user()->dao;
+            $table->foreign('user_id')->references($userDao->primaryKeyColumn)->on($userDao->table)->onDelete('cascade');
+
+            $table->unique(['context_id', 'user_id'], 'user_private_notes_unique');
+            $table->index(['context_id'], 'user_private_notes_context_id_foreign');
+
+            $table->string('note')->default('');
+        });
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Reverse the migration.
+     */
+    public function down(): void
+    {
+        Schema::drop('user_private_notes');
+    }
+}
diff --git a/classes/services/PKPSchemaService.php b/classes/services/PKPSchemaService.php
index ac4d57a9401..8029a73fae2 100644
--- a/classes/services/PKPSchemaService.php
+++ b/classes/services/PKPSchemaService.php
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@ class PKPSchemaService
     public const SCHEMA_SUBMISSION_FILE = 'submissionFile';
     public const SCHEMA_USER = 'user';
     public const SCHEMA_USER_GROUP = 'userGroup';
+    public const SCHEMA_USER_PRIVATE_NOTE = 'userPrivateNote';
     public const SCHEMA_EVENT_LOG = 'eventLog';
 
     /** @var array cache of schemas that have been loaded */
@@ -631,6 +632,7 @@ class_alias('\PKP\services\PKPSchemaService', '\PKPSchemaService');
         'SCHEMA_SUBMISSION_FILE',
         'SCHEMA_USER',
         'SCHEMA_USER_GROUP',
+        'SCHEMA_USER_PRIVATE_NOTE',
     ] as $constantName) {
         if (!defined($constantName)) {
             define($constantName, constant('PKPSchemaService::' . $constantName));
diff --git a/classes/userPrivateNote/Collector.php b/classes/userPrivateNote/Collector.php
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..dacdac8c8bc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/classes/userPrivateNote/Collector.php
@@ -0,0 +1,167 @@
+<?php
+/**
+ * @file classes/userPrivateNote/Collector.php
+ *
+ * Copyright (c) 2014-2021 Simon Fraser University
+ * Copyright (c) 2000-2021 John Willinsky
+ * Distributed under the GNU GPL v3. For full terms see the file docs/COPYING.
+ *
+ * @class \PKP\userPrivateNote\Collector
+ *
+ * @brief A helper class to configure a Query Builder to get a collection of UserPrivateNote
+ */
+
+namespace PKP\userPrivateNote;
+
+use Illuminate\Database\Query\Builder;
+use Illuminate\Support\Collection;
+use Illuminate\Support\Facades\DB;
+use Illuminate\Support\LazyCollection;
+use PKP\core\interfaces\CollectorInterface;
+use PKP\plugins\Hook;
+
+/**
+ * @template T of UserPrivateNote
+ */
+class Collector implements CollectorInterface
+{
+    public const ORDERBY_ID = 'id';
+
+    public ?string $orderBy = null;
+
+    /** @var DAO */
+    public DAO $dao;
+
+    public ?array $userPrivateNoteIds = null;
+
+    public ?array $contextIds = null;
+
+    public ?array $userIds = null;
+
+    public ?int $count = null;
+
+    public ?int $offset = null;
+
+    public function __construct(DAO $dao)
+    {
+        $this->dao = $dao;
+    }
+
+    public function getCount(): int
+    {
+        return $this->dao->getCount($this);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * @return Collection<int,int>
+     */
+    public function getIds(): Collection
+    {
+        return $this->dao->getIds($this);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * @copydoc DAO::getMany()
+     *
+     * @return LazyCollection<int,T>
+     */
+    public function getMany(): LazyCollection
+    {
+        return $this->dao->getMany($this);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Filter by multiple ids
+     */
+    public function filterByUserPrivateNoteIds(?array $ids): self
+    {
+        $this->userPrivateNoteIds = $ids;
+        return $this;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Filter by context IDs
+     */
+    public function filterByContextIds(?array $contextIds): self
+    {
+        $this->contextIds = $contextIds;
+        return $this;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Filter by user ids
+     */
+    public function filterByUserIds(?array $userIds): self
+    {
+        $this->userIds = $userIds;
+        return $this;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Include orderBy columns to the collector query
+     */
+    public function orderBy(?string $orderBy): self
+    {
+        $this->orderBy = $orderBy;
+        return $this;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Limit the number of objects retrieved
+     */
+    public function limit(?int $count): self
+    {
+        $this->count = $count;
+        return $this;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Offset the number of objects retrieved, for example to
+     * retrieve the second page of contents
+     */
+    public function offset(?int $offset): self
+    {
+        $this->offset = $offset;
+        return $this;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * @copydoc CollectorInterface::getQueryBuilder()
+     *
+     * @hook UserGroup::Collector [[&$q, $this]]
+     */
+    public function getQueryBuilder(): Builder
+    {
+        $q = DB::table('user_private_notes as upn')
+            ->select('upn.*');
+
+        if (isset($this->userPrivateNoteIds)) {
+            $q->whereIn('upn.user_private_note_id', $this->userPrivateNoteIds);
+        }
+
+        if (isset($this->contextIds)) {
+            $q->whereIn('upn.context_id', $this->contextIds);
+        }
+
+        if (isset($this->userIds)) {
+            $q->whereIn('upn.user_id', $this->userIds);
+        }
+
+        if (isset($this->count)) {
+            $q->limit($this->count);
+        }
+
+        if (isset($this->offset)) {
+            $q->offset($this->offset);
+        }
+
+        if ($this->orderBy == self::ORDERBY_ID) {
+            $q->orderBy('upn.user_private_note_id');
+        }
+
+        // Add app-specific query statements
+        Hook::call('UserPrivateNote::Collector', [&$q, $this]);
+
+        return $q;
+    }
+}
diff --git a/classes/userPrivateNote/DAO.php b/classes/userPrivateNote/DAO.php
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..1e9258bbbba
--- /dev/null
+++ b/classes/userPrivateNote/DAO.php
@@ -0,0 +1,141 @@
+<?php
+
+/**
+ * @file classes/userPrivateNote/DAO.php
+ *
+ * Copyright (c) 2014-2021 Simon Fraser University
+ * Copyright (c) 2003-2021 John Willinsky
+ * Distributed under the GNU GPL v3. For full terms see the file docs/COPYING.
+ *
+ * @class \PKP\userPrivateNote\DAO
+ *
+ * @see \PKP\userPrivateNote\UserPrivateNote
+ *
+ * @brief Operations for retrieving and modifying UserPrivateNote objects.
+ */
+
+namespace PKP\userPrivateNote;
+
+use Exception;
+use Illuminate\Support\Collection;
+use Illuminate\Support\LazyCollection;
+use PKP\core\EntityDAO;
+use PKP\core\traits\EntityWithParent;
+use PKP\services\PKPSchemaService;
+
+/**
+ * @template T of UserPrivateNote
+ *
+ * @extends EntityDAO<T>
+ */
+class DAO extends EntityDAO
+{
+    use EntityWithParent;
+
+    /** @copydoc EntityDAO::$schema */
+    public $schema = PKPSchemaService::SCHEMA_USER_PRIVATE_NOTE;
+
+    /** @copydoc EntityDAO::$table */
+    public $table = 'user_private_notes';
+
+    /** @copydoc EntityDAO::$primaryKeyColumn */
+    public $primaryKeyColumn = 'user_private_note_id';
+
+    /** @copydoc EntityDAO::$primaryTableColumns */
+    public $primaryTableColumns = [
+        'id' => 'user_private_note_id',
+        'contextId' => 'context_id',
+        'userId' => 'user_id',
+        'note' => 'note',
+    ];
+
+    /**
+     * Get the parent object ID column name
+     */
+    public function getParentColumn(): string
+    {
+        return 'context_id';
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Instantiate a new DataObject
+     */
+    public function newDataObject(): UserPrivateNote
+    {
+        return app(UserPrivateNote::class);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Get the total count of rows matching the configured query
+     */
+    public function getCount(Collector $query): int
+    {
+        return $query
+            ->getQueryBuilder()
+            ->count();
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Get a list of ids matching the configured query
+     *
+     * @return Collection<int,int>
+     */
+    public function getIds(Collector $query): Collection
+    {
+        return $query
+            ->getQueryBuilder()
+            ->select('upn.' . $this->primaryKeyColumn)
+            ->pluck('upn.' . $this->primaryKeyColumn);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Get a collection of publications matching the configured query
+     *
+     * @return LazyCollection<int,T>
+     */
+    public function getMany(Collector $query): LazyCollection
+    {
+        $rows = $query
+            ->getQueryBuilder()
+            ->get();
+
+        return LazyCollection::make(function () use ($rows) {
+            foreach ($rows as $row) {
+                yield $row->user_private_note_id => $this->fromRow($row);
+            }
+        });
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * @copydoc EntityDAO::fromRow()
+     */
+    public function fromRow(object $row): UserPrivateNote
+    {
+        return parent::fromRow($row);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * @copydoc EntityDAO::insert()
+     * @throws Exception
+     */
+    public function insert(UserPrivateNote $privateNote): int
+    {
+        return parent::_insert($privateNote);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * @copydoc EntityDAO::update()
+     */
+    public function update(UserPrivateNote $privateNote): void
+    {
+        parent::_update($privateNote);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * @copydoc EntityDAO::delete()
+     */
+    public function delete(UserPrivateNote $privateNote): void
+    {
+        parent::_delete($privateNote);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/classes/userPrivateNote/Repository.php b/classes/userPrivateNote/Repository.php
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..b96038d969d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/classes/userPrivateNote/Repository.php
@@ -0,0 +1,128 @@
+<?php
+/**
+ * @file classes/userPrivateNote/Repository.php
+ *
+ * Copyright (c) 2014-2020 Simon Fraser University
+ * Copyright (c) 2000-2020 John Willinsky
+ * Distributed under the GNU GPL v3. For full terms see the file docs/COPYING.
+ *
+ * @class \PKP\userPrivateNote\Repository
+ *
+ * @brief A repository to find and manage UserPrivateNote.
+ */
+
+namespace PKP\userPrivateNote;
+
+use APP\core\Request;
+use APP\facades\Repo;
+use Exception;
+use PKP\plugins\Hook;
+use PKP\services\PKPSchemaService;
+
+class Repository
+{
+    /** @var DAO */
+    public DAO $dao;
+
+    /** @var string $schemaMap The name of the class to map this entity to its schema */
+    public string $schemaMap = maps\Schema::class;
+
+    /** @var Request */
+    protected Request $request;
+
+    /** @var PKPSchemaService<UserPrivateNote> */
+    protected PKPSchemaService $schemaService;
+
+    public function __construct(DAO $dao, Request $request, PKPSchemaService $schemaService)
+    {
+        $this->dao = $dao;
+        $this->request = $request;
+        $this->schemaService = $schemaService;
+    }
+
+    /** @copydoc DAO::newDataObject() */
+    public function newDataObject(array $params = []): UserPrivateNote
+    {
+        $object = $this->dao->newDataObject();
+        if (!empty($params)) {
+            $object->setAllData($params);
+        }
+        return $object;
+    }
+
+    /** @copydoc DAO::get() */
+    public function get(int $id, int $contextId = null): ?UserPrivateNote
+    {
+        return $this->dao->get($id, $contextId);
+    }
+
+    /** @copydoc DAO::exists() */
+    public function exists(int $id, int $contextId = null): bool
+    {
+        return $this->dao->exists($id, $contextId);
+    }
+
+    /** @copydoc DAO::getCollector() */
+    public function getCollector(): Collector
+    {
+        return app(Collector::class);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Get an instance of the map class for mapping
+     * user private notes to their schema
+     */
+    public function getSchemaMap(): maps\Schema
+    {
+        return app('maps')->withExtensions($this->schemaMap);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * @throws Exception
+     */
+    public function add(UserPrivateNote $userPrivateNote): int
+    {
+        $userPrivateNoteId = $this->dao->insert($userPrivateNote);
+        $userPrivateNote = Repo::userPrivateNote()->get($userPrivateNoteId);
+
+        Hook::call('UserPrivateNote::add', [$userPrivateNote]);
+
+        return $userPrivateNote->getId();
+    }
+
+    public function edit(UserPrivateNote $userPrivateNote, array $params): void
+    {
+        $newUserPrivateNote = Repo::userPrivateNote()->newDataObject(array_merge($userPrivateNote->_data, $params));
+
+        Hook::call('UserPrivateNote::edit', [$newUserPrivateNote, $userPrivateNote, $params]);
+
+        $this->dao->update($newUserPrivateNote);
+
+        Repo::userPrivateNote()->get($newUserPrivateNote->getId());
+    }
+
+    public function delete(UserPrivateNote $userPrivateNote): void
+    {
+        Hook::call('UserPrivateNote::delete::before', [$userPrivateNote]);
+
+        $this->dao->delete($userPrivateNote);
+
+        Hook::call('UserPrivateNote::delete', [$userPrivateNote]);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Get the user private note for the specified context.
+     *
+     * This returns the user private note, as the "user ID/context ID" key should be unique.
+     */
+    public function getUserPrivateNote(int $userId, int $contextId): ?UserPrivateNote
+    {
+        return Repo::userPrivateNote()
+            ->getCollector()
+            ->filterByUserIds([$userId])
+            ->filterByContextIds([$contextId])
+            ->limit(1)
+            ->getMany()
+            ->first();
+    }
+}
diff --git a/classes/userPrivateNote/UserPrivateNote.php b/classes/userPrivateNote/UserPrivateNote.php
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..ec1bc8f795b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/classes/userPrivateNote/UserPrivateNote.php
@@ -0,0 +1,85 @@
+<?php
+
+/**
+ * @file classes/user/UserPrivateNote.php
+ *
+ * Copyright (c) 2014-2021 Simon Fraser University
+ * Copyright (c) 2000-2021 John Willinsky
+ * Distributed under the GNU GPL v3. For full terms see the file docs/COPYING.
+ *
+ * @class UserPrivateNote
+ *
+ * @ingroup user
+ *
+ * @see DAO
+ *
+ * @brief Basic class describing user private note existing in the system.
+ */
+
+namespace PKP\userPrivateNote;
+
+use PKP\core\DataObject;
+
+class UserPrivateNote extends DataObject
+{
+    /**
+     * Get private note context ID.
+     *
+     * @return int
+     */
+    public function getContextId(): int
+    {
+        return $this->getData('contextId');
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Set private note context ID.
+     *
+     * @param $contextId int
+     */
+    public function setContextId(int $contextId): void
+    {
+        $this->setData('contextId', $contextId);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Get private note user ID.
+     *
+     * @return int
+     */
+    public function getUserId(): int
+    {
+        return $this->getData('userId');
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Set private note user ID.
+     *
+     * @param $userId int
+     */
+    public function setUserId(int $userId): void
+    {
+        $this->setData('userId', $userId);
+    }
+
+
+    /**
+     * Get private note value.
+     *
+     * @return string
+     */
+    public function getNote(): string
+    {
+        return $this->getData('note');
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Set private note value.
+     *
+     * @param $note string
+     */
+    public function setNote(string $note): void
+    {
+        $this->setData('note', $note);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/classes/userPrivateNote/maps/Schema.php b/classes/userPrivateNote/maps/Schema.php
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..041e9be8067
--- /dev/null
+++ b/classes/userPrivateNote/maps/Schema.php
@@ -0,0 +1,95 @@
+<?php
+/**
+ * @file classes/userPrivateNote/maps/Schema.php
+ *
+ * Copyright (c) 2014-2020 Simon Fraser University
+ * Copyright (c) 2000-2020 John Willinsky
+ * Distributed under the GNU GPL v3. For full terms see the file docs/COPYING.
+ *
+ * @class \PKP\userPrivateNote\maps\Schema
+ *
+ * @brief Map UserPrivateNote to the properties defined in the userPrivateNote schema
+ */
+
+namespace PKP\userPrivateNote\maps;
+
+use Illuminate\Support\Enumerable;
+use PKP\context\Context;
+use PKP\core\PKPRequest;
+use PKP\services\PKPSchemaService;
+use PKP\userPrivateNote\UserPrivateNote;
+
+class Schema extends \PKP\core\maps\Schema
+{
+    public Enumerable $collection;
+
+    public string $schema = PKPSchemaService::SCHEMA_USER_PRIVATE_NOTE;
+
+    public function __construct(PKPRequest $request, Context $context, PKPSchemaService $schemaService)
+    {
+        parent::__construct($request, $context, $schemaService);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Map a user private note
+     *
+     * Includes all properties in the announcement schema.
+     */
+    public function map(UserPrivateNote $item): array
+    {
+        return $this->mapByProperties($this->getProps(), $item);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Summarize a user private note
+     *
+     * Includes properties with the apiSummary flag in the user private note schema.
+     */
+    public function summarize(UserPrivateNote $item): array
+    {
+        return $this->mapByProperties($this->getSummaryProps(), $item);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Map a collection of user private notes
+     *
+     * @see self::map
+     */
+    public function mapMany(Enumerable $collection): Enumerable
+    {
+        $this->collection = $collection;
+        return $collection->map(function ($item) {
+            return $this->map($item);
+        });
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Summarize a collection of user private notes
+     *
+     * @see self::summarize
+     */
+    public function summarizeMany(Enumerable $collection): Enumerable
+    {
+        $this->collection = $collection;
+        return $collection->map(function ($item) {
+            return $this->summarize($item);
+        });
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Map schema properties of a user private note to an assoc array
+     */
+    protected function mapByProperties(array $props, UserPrivateNote $item): array
+    {
+        $output = [];
+        foreach ($props as $prop) {
+            $output[$prop] = $item->getData($prop);
+        }
+
+        $output = $this->schemaService->addMissingMultilingualValues($this->schema, $output, $this->context->getSupportedSubmissionLocales());
+
+        ksort($output);
+
+        return $this->withExtensions($output, $item);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/controllers/grid/settings/user/form/UserDetailsForm.php b/controllers/grid/settings/user/form/UserDetailsForm.php
index 9756ccc2313..71558354e15 100644
--- a/controllers/grid/settings/user/form/UserDetailsForm.php
+++ b/controllers/grid/settings/user/form/UserDetailsForm.php
@@ -174,9 +174,13 @@ public function initData()
                 'interests' => $interestManager->getInterestsForUser($user),
                 'locales' => $user->getLocales(),
             ];
-            $data['canCurrentUserGossip'] = Repo::user()->canCurrentUserGossip($user->getId());
+            $userId = $user->getId();
+            $data['canCurrentUserGossip'] = Repo::user()->canCurrentUserGossip($userId);
             if ($data['canCurrentUserGossip']) {
                 $data['gossip'] = $user->getGossip();
+                $contextId = $request->getContext()->getId();
+                $userPrivateNote = Repo::userPrivateNote()->getUserPrivateNote($userId, $contextId);
+                $data['userPrivateNote'] = $userPrivateNote ? $userPrivateNote->getNote() : '';
             }
         } elseif (isset($this->author)) {
             $author = $this->author;
@@ -268,6 +272,7 @@ public function readInputData()
             'country',
             'biography',
             'gossip',
+            'userPrivateNote',
             'interests',
             'locales',
             'generatePassword',
@@ -359,6 +364,7 @@ public function execute(...$functionParams)
             }
 
             Repo::user()->edit($this->user);
+            $userId = $this->user->getId();
         } else {
             $this->user->setUsername($this->getData('username'));
             if ($this->getData('generatePassword')) {
@@ -372,7 +378,7 @@ public function execute(...$functionParams)
             $this->user->setPassword(Validation::encryptCredentials($this->getData('username'), $password));
 
             $this->user->setDateRegistered(Core::getCurrentDate());
-            Repo::user()->add($this->user);
+            $userId = Repo::user()->add($this->user);
 
             if ($sendNotify) {
                 // Send welcome email to user
@@ -398,6 +404,12 @@ public function execute(...$functionParams)
             }
         }
 
+        // Users can never view/edit their own private notes fields
+        if (Repo::user()->canCurrentUserGossip($userId)) {
+            $userPrivateNote = Repo::userPrivateNote()->getUserPrivateNote($userId, $context->getId());
+            Repo::userPrivateNote()->edit($userPrivateNote, ['note', $this->getData('userPrivateNote')]);
+        }
+
         $interestManager = new InterestManager();
         $interestManager->setInterestsForUser($this->user, $this->getData('interests'));
 
diff --git a/controllers/grid/users/reviewer/ReviewerGridRow.php b/controllers/grid/users/reviewer/ReviewerGridRow.php
index 8873cc3d4bf..e8b4e5191e6 100644
--- a/controllers/grid/users/reviewer/ReviewerGridRow.php
+++ b/controllers/grid/users/reviewer/ReviewerGridRow.php
@@ -207,10 +207,10 @@ public function initialize($request, $template = null)
                         'gossip',
                         new AjaxModal(
                             $router->url($request, null, null, 'gossip', null, $actionArgs),
-                            __('user.gossip'),
+                            __('user.notes'),
                             'modal_information'
                         ),
-                        __('user.gossip'),
+                        __('user.notes'),
                         'more_info'
                     )
                 );
diff --git a/controllers/grid/users/reviewer/form/ReviewerGossipForm.php b/controllers/grid/users/reviewer/form/ReviewerGossipForm.php
index 71750ea0e80..7729f349d93 100644
--- a/controllers/grid/users/reviewer/form/ReviewerGossipForm.php
+++ b/controllers/grid/users/reviewer/form/ReviewerGossipForm.php
@@ -20,12 +20,16 @@
 use APP\template\TemplateManager;
 use PKP\form\Form;
 use PKP\user\User;
+use PKP\userPrivateNote\UserPrivateNote;
 
 class ReviewerGossipForm extends Form
 {
     /** @var User The user to gossip about */
     public $_user;
 
+    /** @var UserPrivateNote The user's private note */
+    public UserPrivateNote $_userPrivateNote;
+
     /** @var array Arguments used to route the form op */
     public $_requestArgs;
 
@@ -33,13 +37,15 @@ class ReviewerGossipForm extends Form
      * Constructor.
      *
      * @param User $user The user to gossip about
+     * @param UserPrivateNote $userPrivateNote The user's private note
      * @param array $requestArgs Arguments used to route the form op to the
      *  correct submission, stage and review round
      */
-    public function __construct($user, $requestArgs)
+    public function __construct($user, $userPrivateNote, $requestArgs)
     {
         parent::__construct('controllers/grid/users/reviewer/form/reviewerGossipForm.tpl');
         $this->_user = $user;
+        $this->_userPrivateNote = $userPrivateNote;
         $this->_requestArgs = $requestArgs;
         $this->addCheck(new \PKP\form\validation\FormValidatorPost($this));
         $this->addCheck(new \PKP\form\validation\FormValidatorCSRF($this));
@@ -52,6 +58,7 @@ public function readInputData()
     {
         $this->readUserVars([
             'gossip',
+            'userPrivateNote',
         ]);
     }
 
@@ -66,6 +73,7 @@ public function fetch($request, $template = null, $display = false)
         $templateMgr->assign([
             'requestArgs' => $this->_requestArgs,
             'gossip' => $this->_user->getGossip(),
+            'userPrivateNote' => $this->_userPrivateNote->getNote(),
         ]);
 
         return parent::fetch($request, $template, $display);
@@ -78,6 +86,7 @@ public function execute(...$functionArgs)
     {
         $this->_user->setGossip($this->getData('gossip'));
         Repo::user()->edit($this->_user);
+        Repo::userPrivateNote()->edit($this->_userPrivateNote, ['note' => $this->getData('userPrivateNote')]);
         parent::execute(...$functionArgs);
     }
 }
diff --git a/locale/en/user.po b/locale/en/user.po
index 3e86305a91d..78173d9a963 100644
--- a/locale/en/user.po
+++ b/locale/en/user.po
@@ -102,13 +102,25 @@ msgstr "Given Name"
 msgid "user.interests"
 msgstr "Reviewing interests"
 
-msgid "user.gossip"
+msgid "user.notes"
 msgstr "Editorial Notes"
 
+msgid "user.private.notes"
+msgstr "Private Editorial Notes"
+
+msgid "user.private.notes.description"
+msgstr ""
+"Private record notes about this reviewer that you would like to make visible "
+"to other administrators, managers and all editors. Notes will be visible for "
+"future review assignments."
+
+msgid "user.gossip"
+msgstr "Public Editorial Notes"
+
 msgid "user.gossip.description"
 msgstr ""
-"Record notes about this reviewer that you would like to make visible to "
-"other administrators, managers and all editors. Notes will be visible for "
+"Public record notes about this reviewer that you would like to make visible "
+"to other administrators, managers and all editors. Notes will be visible for "
 "future review assignments."
 
 msgid "user.group"
diff --git a/locale/fr_CA/user.po b/locale/fr_CA/user.po
index 96088b2a6fc..4e9a6ef604e 100644
--- a/locale/fr_CA/user.po
+++ b/locale/fr_CA/user.po
@@ -113,15 +113,28 @@ msgstr "Prénom"
 msgid "user.interests"
 msgstr "Champs d'intérêts pour les évaluations"
 
-msgid "user.gossip"
+msgid "user.notes"
+msgstr "Notes"
+
+msgid "user.private.notes"
 msgstr "Notes privées"
 
+msgid "user.private.notes.description"
+msgstr ""
+"Enregistrer des renseignements relatifs privés à cet ou cette "
+"évaluateur-trice que vous souhaitez partager aux autres "
+"administrateurs-trices, directeurs-trices et rédacteurs-trices. "
+"Ces informations seront visibles lors de futures évaluations."
+
+msgid "user.gossip"
+msgstr "Notes publiques"
+
 msgid "user.gossip.description"
 msgstr ""
-"Enregistrer des renseignements relatifs à cet ou cette évaluateur-trice que "
-"vous souhaitez partager aux autres administrateurs-trices, directeurs-trices "
-"et rédacteurs-trices. Ces informations seront visibles lors de futures "
-"évaluations."
+"Enregistrer des renseignements relatifs publiques à cet ou cette "
+"évaluateur-trice que vous souhaitez partager aux autres "
+"administrateurs-trices, directeurs-trices et rédacteurs-trices. "
+"Ces informations seront visibles lors de futures évaluations."
 
 msgid "user.group"
 msgstr "Groupe d'utilisateurs-trices"
diff --git a/schemas/userPrivateNote.json b/schemas/userPrivateNote.json
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..77a62fbd5a1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/schemas/userPrivateNote.json
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+{
+	"title": "UserPrivateNote",
+	"description": "A private note associated to the user.",
+	"properties": {
+		"id": {
+			"type": "integer",
+			"readOnly": true
+		},
+		"contextId": {
+			"type": "integer"
+		},
+		"userId": {
+			"type": "integer"
+		},
+		"note": {
+			"type": "string"
+		}
+	}
+}
diff --git a/templates/controllers/grid/settings/user/form/userDetailsForm.tpl b/templates/controllers/grid/settings/user/form/userDetailsForm.tpl
index 512cc2d6f1c..a4b122585ed 100644
--- a/templates/controllers/grid/settings/user/form/userDetailsForm.tpl
+++ b/templates/controllers/grid/settings/user/form/userDetailsForm.tpl
@@ -56,6 +56,9 @@
 				{fbvFormSection label="user.gossip" description="user.gossip.description"}
 					{fbvElement type="textarea" name="gossip" id="gossip" rich=true value=$gossip}
 				{/fbvFormSection}
+                {fbvFormSection label="user.private.notes" description="user.private.notes.description"}
+                    {fbvElement type="textarea" name="userPrivateNote" id="userPrivateNote" rich=true value=$userPrivateNote}
+                {/fbvFormSection}
 			{/if}
 		{/if}
 
diff --git a/templates/controllers/grid/users/reviewer/form/reviewerGossipForm.tpl b/templates/controllers/grid/users/reviewer/form/reviewerGossipForm.tpl
index 48a5a0a20e8..711310ce31f 100644
--- a/templates/controllers/grid/users/reviewer/form/reviewerGossipForm.tpl
+++ b/templates/controllers/grid/users/reviewer/form/reviewerGossipForm.tpl
@@ -16,9 +16,15 @@
 <form class="pkp_form" id="reviewerGossipForm" method="post" action="{url op="gossip" params=$requestArgs}" >
 	{csrf}
 
+    <h3>{translate key="user.gossip"}</h3>
 	{fbvFormSection}
 		{fbvElement type="textarea" name="gossip" id="gossip" label="user.gossip.description" rich=true value=$gossip}
 	{/fbvFormSection}
 
+    <h3>{translate key="user.private.notes"}</h3>
+    {fbvFormSection}
+        {fbvElement type="textarea" name="userPrivateNote" id="userPrivateNote" label="user.private.notes.description" rich=true value=$userPrivateNote}
+    {/fbvFormSection}
+
 	{fbvFormButtons}
 </form>