Independent Thinking on Publishing's Future
Introduction Let’s be honest—most people don’t start writing because they think it’ll make them rich. They write because something burns inside: a story that demands to be told, a perspective that needs airing, or a compulsion to shape the world with words. But at some point, the practical side of things creeps in. Rent is … Read more
Introduction Academic publishers are paid twice for research they neither fund nor write: once by libraries for access and, increasingly, again by authors for open access. This article explains how that model works, why it is so profitable and why resistance has been slow. Key points There’s a bizarre paradox at the heart of academia: … Read more
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