Math Journal Editors Quit for Open Access

[hunter]

By Lindsay McKenzie
July 31, 2017

The four editors in chief of the Journal of Algebraic Combinatorics have informed their publisher, Springer, of their intention to launch a rival open-access journal to protest the publisher’s high prices and limited accessibility. This is the latest in a string of what one observer called “editorial mutinies” over journal publishing policies.

In a news release last Thursday, the editors said their decision was not made because of any "particular crisis" but was the result of it becoming “more and more clear” that Springer intended to keep charging readers and authors large fees while "adding little value."

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https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2017/07/31/math-journal-editors-resign-start-rival-open-access-journal

I'm frequently irritated when I find journal articles behind paywalls.

Back in the old days when journals were printed using Linotype machines and huge presses, the business model made sense. With the internet and on-demand printing from Amazon and the like, the barrier to publishing anything is now very low.

Unfortunately with academic pressures to publish, this low barrier of entry has led to the creation of many scam publishers who charge high rates to unwitting academics, supposedly for some kind of credibility that's beyond what an academic researcher could achieve by publishing the work themselves or by publishing in legitimate open-access journals.

The traditional, legitimate journals (like Springer), who keep everything they publish as property kept behind paywalls, are having a difficult time adapting to this new reality.

It doesn't seem that long ago I was reading printed paper journals in the university library, grouching whenever newer journals were away at the bindery, and paying copy fees to libraries who subscribed to a particular journal. The copy of an article I'd get would usually be a literal copy made by a library clerk of the physical journal article, or sometimes a really ugly copy made from microfilm.

[Beearewhyain]

1. Kudos to the editors, glad they are taking a stand

You may already know about this but in case you don't and for others who are interested, there is an add on I use for chrome that checks to see if a journal article is available outside of the paywall. It won't work on all articles but I have been able to read many I would not have been able to otherwise. Check it out...

http://unpaywall.org/