Introduction: The Wrong Question Has open access failed? It is a tempting question, and increasingly, a popular one. Critics point to rising publishing costs, predatory journals, paper mills, and the growing frustration of researchers who feel that the system is no longer working in their favor. From a distance, the conclusion seems obvious. Open access … Read more
Introduction: The Myth of “Building AI” There is a quiet but persistent illusion spreading across academic publishing. It usually begins with a familiar phrase: “We need to build our own AI.” It sounds ambitious. It sounds forward-thinking. It sounds like survival. It is also, for most publishers, completely misguided. The reality is far less glamorous. … Read more
Introduction For over two decades, open access has been framed as one of the most important moral victories in academic publishing. The idea is simple, elegant, and almost impossible to argue against. Knowledge, especially publicly funded knowledge, should be freely available to anyone who seeks it. No paywalls. No barriers. No gatekeeping based on ability … Read more
Introduction Something fundamental has changed in academic publishing, and it did not arrive with a dramatic announcement or a clean transition plan. It happened quietly, almost awkwardly, as if the industry itself was not entirely aware of what was going on. For decades, the business model was straightforward. Publishers sold content to libraries, libraries paid … Read more
Introduction Academic publishing has always had an easy scapegoat: bad writing. When journals are overwhelmed, when reviewers are slow, when editorial timelines stretch into months, the blame often lands on the quality of submissions. Too many weak papers. Too many poorly structured arguments. More recently, too many AI-generated manuscripts flooding the system. It sounds convincing, … Read more