Introduction Academic publishing earns billions from research it does not fund, reviewed by academics it does not pay, and sold back to the institutions that produced it. This article sets out the main problems, from paywalls and APCs to prestige, predatory journals and global inequality. Key points Academic publishing likes to wrap itself in the … Read more
Introduction Academic publishing will look very different by 2030, and most of that change is already visible in 2026: artificial intelligence has barged into editorial offices with a suitcase and plans to stay, and open access is an economic reality rather than a radical dream. The ten predictions below follow the trends moving fastest, from … Read more
Introduction Running an academic journal sounds prestigious. The title alone conjures images of tweed jackets, intellectual debates, and thoughtful peer reviews. But ask anyone who has actually managed one, and you’ll quickly get a different story. Behind the formal editorials and polished PDFs lies a chaotic machine of unpaid labor, technical bottlenecks, and bureaucratic gymnastics. … Read more
Introduction Editorial policies set the rules a journal works by, from authorship and peer review to AI use, data sharing and corrections, and many have not been revised in years. This guide sets out seven practical steps for updating them so they match current standards and the way your journal actually works. Key points Editorial … Read more
Introduction If academic writing had a VIP list, the literature review would be right at the top. It’s not the flashiest part of a thesis or paper, and it rarely gets quoted in the media, but it holds the scaffolding together. A literature review is the scholarly world’s equivalent of checking the map before heading … Read more