Independent Thinking on Publishing's Future
Zul M 
Introduction It’s no secret that some books skyrocket to the top of bestseller lists while others, despite strong prose or groundbreaking themes, fade into literary obscurity. The publishing industry often leans on formulas, buzz, and promotional budgets, but readers themselves are the real tastemakers. So, what do readers truly want? Why do some stories click … Read more
Introduction The phrase “publish or perish” in academic publishing has become a kind of mantra—ominous, omnipresent, and seemingly unshakable. It encapsulates a reality where scholarly output is no longer just a means of sharing knowledge but a metric for academic survival. For early-career researchers and tenured professors alike, the pressure to churn out publications is … Read more
Introduction Impact factors, h-indices and citation counts were designed to describe journals and literature, not to decide careers. This article argues that their misuse now distorts how research is done and judged, and looks at the reforms, from DORA to CoARA, that aim to put expert judgement back at the centre of research assessment. Key … Read more
Introduction The European academic publishing landscape has undergone seismic shifts in recent years, with open access (OA) reform taking center stage. Plan S is at the forefront of this transformation, a bold initiative launched in 2018 by cOAlition S—an international consortium of national research funders and charitable foundations. Its mission? To make all publicly funded … Read more
Introduction Indexation in Scopus and Web of Science (WoS) is a hallmark of quality and credibility in scholarly publishing. For journal editors, especially those in emerging or niche disciplines, getting a journal into these prestigious databases is not merely a badge of honor—it can profoundly affect author submissions, citation metrics, funding opportunities, and the overall … Read more