Academic Publishing is a Lucrative Business. More Lucrative than Running Apple Inc.

Academic publishing is a lucrative business - Featured

Introduction It might sound like the setup to a particularly dry economic satire, but here’s a bold claim: running an academic publishing house can be more lucrative, at least on paper, than running Apple Inc. That’s right. The folks putting out journal articles about medieval plant taxonomy or nanoparticle simulations may be quietly outpacing the … Read more

More than 5 Million Scholarly Articles Were Published in 2024. And Here Are More Interesting Facts.

The number of scholarly articles produced in 2024 - Featured

Introduction In 2024, the academic publishing world shattered yet another ceiling: over 5.14 million scholarly articles were published globally across various disciplines. That’s not a typo. Five million. That’s more than the number of babies born in some countries—and definitely more than the number of books most people read in a lifetime. This figure reflects … Read more

Let’s Face It: Academic Publishing is a Multi-Billion Dollar Industry

Academic publishing is a multi-billion dollar industry - Featured

Introduction Academic publishing has always worn a veneer of nobility. It presents itself as the beating heart of global research, the engine behind scientific discovery, and the bridge connecting ivory tower ideas to real-world impact. But strip away the Latin mottos, the peer-reviewed gloss, and the library branding, and you’re left with something that looks … Read more

Double-Dipping in Open Access: Academic Publishing’s Dirty Secret

Double-dipping in open access - Featured

Introduction In the high-minded world of academic publishing, one might assume transparency and ethical integrity form the backbone of the industry. After all, it’s about knowledge, right? But peer behind the curtain, and you’ll uncover a troubling reality: the practice of “double-dipping.” It’s a term that should make every scholar’s eyebrow twitch and every librarian’s … Read more

Academic Journals Are Slow. Here’s Why, and How We Might Fix It.

Academic journals are slow - Featured

Introduction Academic journals are famously sluggish. Submitting a paper can feel like tossing it into a black hole, waiting months—sometimes over a year—for a verdict that ranges from “revise and resubmit” to the dreaded “desk rejection.” This pace can be maddening for authors, especially early-career researchers on the tenure clock or those in fast-moving fields. … Read more