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Question all assumptions: Learned Publishing at 30
Author(s) -
Smart Pippa
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
learned publishing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.06
H-Index - 34
eISSN - 1741-4857
pISSN - 0953-1513
DOI - 10.1002/leap.1163
Subject(s) - publishing , norm (philosophy) , public relations , sociology , political science , law , history , computer science , media studies
2018 marks the 30th birthday of Learned Publishing and has made us consider what role the journal has played, continues to play, and should play in the evolving world of scholarly publishing. Our world has changed (almost) out of all recognition in the past three decades. This is largely due to developments in technology, which have shaped and influenced the changing expectations of what should be the norm for scholarly research publishing. We believe that the role of Learned Publishing within this environment is to provide evidence that helps everyone involved with scholarly publishing to make better decisions. Alongside facts and figures we have also published informed opinions from thought-leaders that discuss ‘hot topics’ and it is interesting to track the ebb and flow of themes over the past three decades. What is particularly striking is the move away from acceptance and defence of the traditional model that the journal published 30 years ago to more recent articles that (directly or indirectly) challenge the assumptions on which the current journal publishing environment is based. It is a terrible cliché to say that we have reached a crossroads, but perhaps it is correct to say that the watershed moment is imminent. Large and small influential changes seem to be introduced daily: from the launch of large funder publishing platforms (e.g. Wellcome Open), to evolving funder mandates (e.g. the UK Research and Innovation’s OA monograph requirement in the Research Excellent Framework), to new quality metrics (e.g. Dimensions) and new journals offering innovative editorial and publishing methods (too many to mention). There are also an increasing number of advocacy events (e.g. OA week) to raise awareness of open science and challenge acceptance of the traditional publishing model. In such an uncertain environment, it becomes more important for society and other publishers to question the current models when deciding how to move forward – whilst also continuing to publish and remain financially secure. Although to some it may appear that publishers are going about business as usual with scant regard for the raging debates, our articles have demonstrated a wealth of developments and broad thinking about the issues at hand.