Introduction Most established, indexed journals can still be trusted, but predatory journals, paper mills and a flood of submissions mean no reader can take a journal’s name on faith any more. This article explains what makes a journal trustworthy, how the system is being gamed, and the checks anyone can use to judge a journal. … 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 The question of how long a journal article should be has long haunted graduate students, early-career researchers, and seasoned academics alike. Is 3,000 words enough? Is 10,000 too much? The answer, as always in academia, is: it depends. Word count is not just a matter of verbosity or brevity. It’s about discipline norms, journal … Read more
Introduction Starting a social sciences academic journal may sound like an endeavor best reserved for tenured professors or publishing conglomerates with budgets that rival the GDPs of small countries. However, with the right mix of vision, planning, and unwavering perseverance, it is entirely possible to launch a journal that makes a meaningful contribution to the … Read more