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
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
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
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
Introduction Open access publishing is one of those revolutionary ideas that seems obvious in hindsight. Who wouldn’t want free and unrestricted access to scholarly knowledge, particularly when much of it is publicly funded? Yet, this movement, now synonymous with modern academic progress, has a murky and complex history. The phrase “open access” itself only entered … Read more