Try to union two queries by the set_content_type
value, for example like this:
SELECT
cmn.spe_manuscript_num,
cmn.spe_content_type,
jrn.spe_journal_pub_online_date AS pub_online_date
FROM spe_common_data cmn
JOIN spe_journal_data jrn ON cmn.spe_manuscript_num = jrn.spe_manuscript_num
WHERE cmn.spe_content_type = 'JOURNAL PAPER'
UNION ALL
SELECT
cmn.spe_manuscript_num,
cmn.spe_content_type,
pm.early_start_date AS pub_online_date
FROM spe_common_data cmn
JOIN spe_conference_data cnf ON cmn.spe_manuscript_num = cnf.spe_manuscript_num
JOIN petro_meetings pm ON cnf.spe_meeting_code = pm.spe_meeting_code
WHERE cmn.spe_content_type = 'CONFERENCE PAPER'
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