In a previous report, we documented the alarming trend of editorial teams resigning en masse from academic journals. Between 2023 and May 2024, a notable number of publications experienced these mass resignations due to disagreements with publishers over changes in editorial policies, increased publication pressure, and financial decisions. These resignations highlight a growing disconnect between publishers and editors, driven by conflicts over the direction and standards of academic publishing.
In this piece, we explore potential solutions to these problems and discuss the role of the academic community in addressing them.
Possible Solutions
The growth of non-profit publications managed by academics could be a possible solution to this problem. A group of dedicated academics, unwilling to compromise with publishers, could manage their own non-profit publication to reduce costs for researchers.
Furthermore, for-profit publications managed by academics could alleviate overreliance on editors. As the owners of the business and editors of the journal, these academics could make strategic decisions and changes without significant internal resistance, thereby increasing reliability.
However, managing a journal, establishing its reputation, and acting as its editor are no easy tasks. These activities are both capital-intensive and time-consuming. Initial steps require special grants and academic community support for these new publications to compete in a mature industry until they can sustain themselves.
As members of the academic community, we need to consider the future of academic publication. If we desire change, our choices should reflect this. We should choose where we publish not only based on its fame or impact factor, but also its practices, ownership, and management.
When hiring academics, emphasis should shift from the prestige of publication venues to the quality of the publications, providing them with more freedom to choose where they publish. Changing norms requires a collective effort from the academic community.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the mass resignations of editorial teams from various journals underscore the deep-seated issues in academic publishing. They highlight the growing divide between publishers’ strategic goals and the academic principles that editors uphold. We believe that if the academic community wants to change this model, we should support publications that align with our values, are managed by those we trust, and forgo hiring practices that overemphasize the prestige of the researcher’s publication venues.