Leading academic journals are distorting the academic process. It is not my who's saying it, but Randy Schekman, respectable Noble Prize laureate.
His main arguments are that the journals - he is referring to those in his domain of activity, biology, but I think that it can go with almost every academic publication - are trying to direct the researches into areas that are considered 'trendy', neglecting domains that may be of interest for the development of science, even though not necessarily for the readers. Another important observation is that the editors are not necessarily active scientists and thus, their opinions are limiting the domain and the quality of research as such. For the sake of the colour, he compared the approaches of the 'trendy' publications with those of 'fashion designers that creates limited hand-bags' (nothing wrong with the limited hand-bags, as long as there are big enough to carry all your scientific booklets in).
When I read the remarks the first and second time, I realize how much I am on his side. Not only because he is a Nobel Prize and he might be right, but because he is saying in his own words what I was always think about the general process of submitting to big, trendy, branded academic publications.
Very careful with my energies and with my time, I did not apply too often in the last 2 years and tried to limit my editorial appearances to those publications - 1 or 2 - that make me feel free with my writing. I do a lot of book reviews lately while trying to keep my ideas for the books that I will definitely self-publish.
Once upon a time, when I was at the beginning of my PhD studies, I applied and even sent articles to some local and regional publications. As expected, I received a lot of rejections and some kind acceptances. When you are a perfect beginner in the academic field, and in addition someone that did not spend too much time in the academia, such a situation is normal. I enthusiastically reviewed my articles and sent them again. Some were accepted, many not. But I don't give up too often and I took the situation for granted and continued my research.
The more I was involved in further research and study, the more I realized that some topics are very trendy for a while - especially when you can receive proper international funding - while some - many of my topics - were not. Some angles were more popular than the others, some references always accepted and highly recommended in order to have a high rate of acceptance.
Later, as an academic editor, I noticed how PhD coordinators are extremely proud to see themselves mentioned at least 4 times in the papers of their pupils and, of course, not always in a critical way. As for me, I was lucky enough to be left alone with my own references that did not include too much work written by my teacher.
After a while, I lost too much interest in writing articles, and except my regular notes about academic life and my book reviews - and most recently, this blog that I will do my best to make it growing in the next 12 months - I keep my ideas for books and larger researches that, surprise, I will self-publish. This is another reason to love the 21st century, as it gives me the time and the opportunities to write what I am interested in, without following the editorial lines and reproduce ad nauseam the limitations from the mind of some editors whose main frustrations is that they edited too much without writing their own works or are too specific to see the big picture any more.
Am I afraid of being judged? Not at all! What the self-publishing always showed me is that if you write quality work and you do a bit of promotion - nothing shameful when you know that you did something worth to change the scientific trends - your work will be appreciated and will find the audience. If you create - was about to write 'produce' - bad quality work, no one will ever buy it. As simple as that!
PS. I promise to be back with more academic writing. Right now, I am doing intensive research for a handbook aimed to help the non-academics to cope with the challenges of being back to school. More posts are ready in my mind and when I will have more time, I will try to be here more often!
Happy writing anyone!
