A NEW KIND OF JOURNAL: open access, no fees, no conflicts of interest
- Posted by Alan Eppel
- Posted in Editorials & Commentary
The traditional scholarly medical journal is at risk. The cost of maintaining print journals is extremely high and dependent on advertising revenues.
Online open access journals charge high fees to authors which brings into question the rigour of peer review and the objectivity of article selection.
Yale cardiologist Harlan Krumholz in an editorial in the journal Circulation titled “The End of Journals” questions whether the traditional medical journal can survive.
Dr. Krumholz points out that tradition journals are hampered by nine deficiencies;
- The review process and publication are too slow articles taking one year or more to be published.
- Cost. Publication of traditional journals is extremely costly. These costs are borne by subscribers and by libraries. Open access journals charge exorbitant amounts for publication.
- Limitations of format and size means limits the amount and type of data that can be presented.
- Lack of transparency and external scrutiny of the peer review and journal decision-making process.
- Too much focus on the impact factor and citations rather than focusing on advancing scientific knowledge and improving clinical care.
- Too much power concentrated in the hands of editors and in high prestige journals.
- Lack of diversity among editorial boards and also among the sources of articles.
- Too static lacking interactive capacity.
- Too dependent on advertising revenue.
The Journal of Psychiatry Reform is a completely open access online journal. There are no author or submission fees or any other charges.
Articles or letters that are submitted for publication will be peer reviewed by the editorial board. Articles in which there are real or perceived conflicts of interest due to industry, corporate, institutional or political influence will not be published.
CORE PURPOSE
To promote the humane and effective practice of psychiatry by the publication of unbiased and critically appraised psychiatric information.
CORE VALUES
independence
integrity
authenticity
evidence-based
biopsychosocial orientation
equity
social justice
CORE ACTIVITIES
To publish articles, reviews and abstracts.
To disseminate psychiatric information by means of social media and electronic communications.
To advocate for improvements to psychiatric services and practice.
To improve the experience and engagement of patients within psychiatry.
To promote the mental health of patients.
Alan Eppel
References
Krumholz HM. The End of Journals. Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.
2015;8:533-534.
