For 17 years I was a journal editor. I was not a researcher serving as a volunteer on a journal editorial board or a part-time academic editor also running my own lab; I was a professional editor at a broad life sciences weekly journal. Since stepping down as the Editor of the journal, I have … Read more
I have recently interacted with early career and late stage scientists who have had problems with predatory journals or journals with low requirements for members of their editorial boards. I advised each of these scientists and thought I would share that advice here. For an early career scientist, I first explained the typical roles of … Read more
One of the mysteries in scholarly publishing is the peer-review process. I created this short video to help scientists understand the process editors use in selecting reviewers. I describe it as a game of dodge ball. The editor typically has a large pool of potential reviewers who have the right expertise and scientific background, but … Read more
Tying all of the revenue associated with and costs of publication to the researcher creates an inherent conflict of interest. The STEM publishing industry has undergone at least 2 paradigm shifts since I entered the industry. In 2000, when I started at the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), a not-for-profit society publisher, … Read more
Rejection is a reality for scientists, and a major responsibility of journal editors. Researchers performing good science—well controlled studies with solid methodologies that produce clear, reproducible results that advance scientific knowledge or extend scientific findings—can find themselves struggling to be published. A selective journal with a relatively high acceptance rate of 20% will be sending … Read more