The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have come in for a lot of criticism since they were adopted in 2015. Following on from the Millennium Goals, they were an attempt by the United Nations to offer guidance and purpose to researchers seeking to improve society through their work. Some people objected from the start that … Continue reading Has Academia Squandered the Chance to Make Real Impact?
Could We Cope Without COPE?
This week is COPE's Publication Integrity Week 2025, with five days of online events and activities to highlight issues around publishing integrity. It is COPE’s (the Committee on Publication Ethics) attempt to ensure it addresses current concerns in the scholarly communications community, and each day focuses on a different theme. This year, COPE has identified … Continue reading Could We Cope Without COPE?
Is the Article *Really* Dead?
I was fortunate to attend the annual Charleston Conference last week, and in addition to the lovely weather and beautiful surroundings of South Carolina in early November, I was able to enjoy a vibrant and serious-minded event against a backdrop of unprecedented challenges. While there was an overall mood of deep concern for librarianship, there … Continue reading Is the Article *Really* Dead?
What Does ‘Beta’ Even Mean?
For those of us who have been in scholarly communications for a number of years, one of the most noticeable shifts in the industry has been the use of language and how it has morphed from being almost historical in nature to being at the cutting edge of the ‘tech bro’ vernacular. These days in … Continue reading What Does ‘Beta’ Even Mean?
Will AI + OA be OK?
If you are anything like me, you will have been experiencing serious FOMO in the last week as colleagues and acquaintances descended on Frankfurt for the annual publishing social, interrupted intermittently by the Book Fair. From what most LinkedIn posts would have you believe, a good time was had by all, but some of that … Continue reading Will AI + OA be OK?
Beer, Chips and System Failures
Whatever your political persuasion, in recent times it seems apparent that things are not quite how they should be. Things are never perfect, of course, but no matter your views, there appears to be a groundswell of opinion that things need to change. And with social media turbocharging our keyboard warrior tendencies, we also need … Continue reading Beer, Chips and System Failures
The Most Important Number in Publishing?
Happy 50th birthday to ISSN! Yes, this week marks the half-century of ISSN International Centre, the body that manages the identifications of serial publications globally. Originally known as the International Serials Data System (ISDS), it was set up jointly by the UNESCO and France in 1975, and has been based in Paris ever since. The … Continue reading The Most Important Number in Publishing?
A Little Knowledge Is a Dangerous Thing
There have been a number of studies in recent years about the awareness of predatory journals among researchers, which have had some troubling findings around perceived knowledge and actual knowledge of their activities. One study, for example, showed that while 87% of respondents to one survey said they were confident in identifying a predatory journal, … Continue reading A Little Knowledge Is a Dangerous Thing
When Academia Takes on Journalism… and Falls Short
This month has seen two articles published and garner significant attention on the predatory publishing phenomenon, highlighting many of the problems it creates for scholarly communications and society in general. Both articles are well argued, making interesting points and revealing core truths about predatory journals. So, what’s the problem? One of them is wrong. Not … Continue reading When Academia Takes on Journalism… and Falls Short
Peer Review: Weak?
Now a fixture in the scholarly communications calendar, Peer Review Week has become one of those pivots that for many people, the year revolves around. Like children going back to school after the summer break, or the inexorable slowdown ahead of Christmas, this week in mid-September serves as a reflection point on what has gone … Continue reading Peer Review: Weak?