Is Peer Review A Big Bad Joke?

Is something rotten in the world of academic publishing? Yes, if you read a blockbuster piece in the latest issue of Science magazine showing how many open–access journals have little or no quality control, and apparently put hard cash (in the shape of author contributor fees) before time–honored quality control procedures. Impersonating a fictitious biologist named Ocorrafoo M. L. Cobange, the "gonzo scientist" John Bohannon created an erroneous paper reporting on the anti–cancer properties of a certain lichen. He submitted the work to 304 scientific publications that use an open–access model, which means they don't rely on paywalls and reader subscriptions that had been traditional in the academic publishing industry. More than half of the journals (157) accepted the egregiously flawed paper, often without asking for changes. For example, the Journal of International Medical Research, published by Sage, sent an immediate acceptance letter along with an invoice for $3,100. Bohannon says his "sting" calls into question the open–access movement, which has grown in response to the high cost, and perceived elitism, of traditional journal publishing:Read Full Story     Continue reading at 'Fast Company'

[ Fast Company | 2013-10-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #quality control #high cost

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BRC concerned over business rates review

The British Retail Consortium (BRC) and other business groups are to meet the Treasury this month to discuss concerns over the government’s proposed review of business rates, according to the Telegraph. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-01-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Survival Test: Startup Review 2015

When PW did a review at the end of 2013 on how more than 30 industry startups had performed over the last few years, we found that while several had “pivoted” and one had been sold, for the most part companies were still in business and hopeful that sustainable growth was just around the corner. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-01-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Gift Books Are Big Business for Christian Publishers

A number of publishers in the religion category offer gift books with spiritual or religious themes, and while many publish only a few gift titles per year, others are in the gift book business in a major way, with entire imprints devoted to gifts and robust product lines. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-01-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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PW's Top Book Reviews of 2014

Here are the reviews of adult titles that were read the most on publishersweekly.com this year—an intriguing mix of backlist titles and contemporary hits. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-12-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Book Review: What If?: Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions

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[ Wired | 2014-12-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Remembering author Norman Bridwell, creator of Clifford the Big Red Dog

Bridwell wrote and illustrated more than 150 titles for Scholastic, according to the publisher. Two 'Clifford' titles are still forthcoming. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-12-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Dear Reader by Paul Fournel review – an elegy for the printed book

A charming French novel about an old-school publisher trying to get to grips with the digital ageAt more than one point in this novel I found myself asking: could this be any more French? Early on we meet a character described thus: “She used to be incredibly good-looking and now at... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-12-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Books of the Year: Newspaper review round-up

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[ The Bookseller | 2014-12-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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'The Crew': The Joystiq Review

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[ Engadget | 2014-12-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-12-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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PW reviewers were impressed with these spirituality and religion books published in 2014. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-12-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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[ Wired | 2014-12-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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[ Advertising Age | 2014-12-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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[ The Bookseller | 2014-12-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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[ The Bookseller | 2014-12-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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[ Publishing Executive | 2014-12-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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[ Publishing Executive | 2014-12-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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[ Publishing Executive | 2014-12-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-12-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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[ The Bookseller | 2014-11-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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