The Hidden Politics of Journal Indexing

Politics of Journal Indexing

Introduction Scholarly journal indexing is usually framed as boring infrastructure. A background system. A checklist. A database decision. Something editors deal with quietly while scholars focus on research and writing. That framing is convenient, because it hides just how much power indexing holds over academic life. Being indexed by major databases determines which journals survive … Read more

Should You Publish in Overlay Journals?

Should you publish in overlay journals

Introduction Academic publishing is currently undergoing a midlife crisis of some sort. For decades, the traditional model of shipping papers off to a corporate giant, waiting six months for peer review, and then paying to read your own work has been the standard.  However, as the internet matured, researchers began to realize that the heavy … Read more

Emerging Cities for a Publishing Career You Should Watch 

Emerging cities for a publishing career

Introduction The publishing industry has been synonymous with major publishing cities: New York and London primarily, with a few other powerful contenders like Toronto and Boston rounding out the usual suspects. If you wanted a serious career in books, magazines, or academic journals, you essentially packed your bags for one of these expensive, notoriously competitive … Read more

Predatory Journals are a Byproduct of Greedy Publishers

Predatory journals are a byproduct of greedy publishers

Introduction Academic publishing has undergone a dramatic transformation over the last few decades. What was once a system largely driven by scholarly societies, university presses, and the mission of disseminating knowledge has become a multi-billion-dollar industry dominated by a handful of enormous commercial entities. This shift has not been without its profound and often negative … Read more

How Far Can the Ebook Market Grow?

How far can the ebook market grow

Introduction The ebook market. Ah, the digital frontier of reading. A decade and a half ago, we were all convinced that the printed book, that lovely chunk of paper, was heading for the literary dustbin. E-readers were slick, instantly downloadable, and promised an entire library in your pocket. The early growth rates were nothing short … Read more