(12 Feb 2021) The first outputs from Texas Tech University’s new STEPP (STEM Training in Ethics of Publication Practices) programme have been published, in the form of two articles: Profiting from the paradigm shift in scholarly journal publishing: The case of predatory publishers, and A qualitative content analysis of watchlists vs safelists: How do they…
(29 Jul 2019) ‘Predatory journals’ pose a danger that could undermine the quality, integrity, and reliability of published scientific research, a new joint statement from three leading organizations, professional in medical writing and publication planning, has warned. The American Medical Writers Association (AMWA), European Medical Writers Association (EMWA), and International Society for Medical Publication Professionals (ISMPP)…
(3 Apr 2019) The publisher and conference organizer is ordered to pay the US government for what some report to be predatory behavior. US District of Nevada Judge Gloria M. Navarro has ordered OMICS International to pay the US government fines to the amount of over $50 million, according to a court report released March 29. The Scientist…
(1 November 2018) Cabells has now investigated and verified over 10,000 individual titles for inclusion into its Journal Blacklist. Launched in June 2017, Cabells’ Journal Blacklist is a database available to scholars of deceptive and predatory academic journals. The Blacklist is compiled by specialists who analyze suspected journals against 65 behavioral indicators to keep the…
By Ruth A. Pagell* (21 October 2018) A chaired professor at a distinguished British university is listed as the international advisor for a journal even though he has tried for years to remove his name. A new online directory lists a major database vendor as a sponsor even after a “cease and desist” order Many…
By Ruth A. Pagell* (18 September 2018) During decades of working with faculty in competitive universities I was always concerned by “publish or perish”, especially when junior faculty were pressured to publish in ”A” journals. Now, thanks to the proliferation of possibly predatory publishers, anyone can publish anything in a publication that calls itself a peer-reviewed…
(13 September 2018) Following a high profile investigation into predatory journals, the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, ICIJ, has turned its attention to bogus scientific conferences. In the audience at a recent conference in Venice was a group of South Korean reporters from Newstapa, a Seoul-based investigative journalism center and partner of the International Consortium…
(6 September 2018) An unintended consequence of the open access movement, predatory publishers have appeared in many countries, offering authors a quick and easy route to publication in exchange for a fee and usually without any apparent peer review or quality control. Using a large database of publications, Marcelo S. Perlin, Takeyoshi Imasato and Denis…
(29 August 2018) Universities in India had until August 30 to present a “white list” of recognized journals to the University Grants Commission, a government body that provides funding and maintains higher-education standards in the country. In previously submitted recommendations, universities have included predatory journals, publishers that charge high fees for low-quality or no peer…
(20 July 2018) Hundreds of thousands of scientists worldwide have published studies in self-described scientific journals that don’t provide traditional checks for accuracy and quality, according to a new journalistic investigation. Dozens of reporters from media outlets in Europe, Asia and the United States have analysed 175,000 scientific articles published by five of the world’s…