Zul M

Zul Musa has over a decade of experience in publishing, working with one of the biggest scholarly publishers in a Malaysian research university. His interests lie in publishing trends and technology, open access and digital publishing. Zul has served in various capacities throughout many years, including editing, copyediting, journal administration, designing, and marketing. A book author and a keen writer, he was one of the recipients of the Malaysia Website Awards 2017.

Springer Nature and the Open Access Deal with BTAA: A Turning Point or Another Step in a Long Game?

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Springer Nature and the open access deal with BTAA

Introduction Springer Nature and the Big Ten Academic Alliance (BTAA) announced a landmark agreement: an unlimited open access publishing deal that enables researchers from BTAA institutions to publish an unlimited number of open access articles in Springer Nature journals. This arrangement is a significant shift in the evolving landscape of academic publishing. But what does … Read more

Are Editors Useless in the Age of AI?

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Are editors useless in the age of AI

Introduction The editor, once the silent architect behind every compelling story, every polished research paper, and every flawlessly flowing book, is now staring down an existential crisis. Do we still need them in a world where ChatGPT can suggest better phrasing in seconds and Grammarly obsessively tracks your Oxford commas? The rise of generative AI … Read more

The Unpaid Labor of Academic Publishing

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The unpaid labor of academic publishing

Introduction Academic publishing is a multi-billion-dollar industry—valued at almost $30 billion globally—propped up by a curious economic paradox: the majority of its labor force works for free. Peer reviewers, editors, and even authors provide their services without direct compensation, supporting publishing conglomerates that report profit margins rivaling those of tech giants. How did this industry, … Read more

Who Benefits from Academic Publishing’s Billion-Dollar Industry?

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Academic publishing's billion-dollar industry - Featured image

Introduction Academic publishing is not a sleepy, dusty corner of the knowledge economy. It is a billion-dollar business—a goldmine carved out of university budgets, taxpayer money, and the unpaid labor of scholars. In 2024, the global academic publishing market was valued at nearly $30 billion, showing no sign of slowing down. So here’s the question … Read more

How AI is Making Plagiarism Issue More Complex

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How AI is making plagiarism issue more complex - Featured

Introduction Plagiarism has always been a complicated and ethically charged issue, but artificial intelligence has recently thrown a wrench into what was already a messy academic, creative, and legal landscape. With generative AI tools now capable of producing entire essays, books, and research papers on demand, the question is no longer just “Did this person … Read more