A key criteria for academic publications is that they make a novel contribution to their field. However, as Adam Arian argues the wide interpretation of novelty applied by editors and reviewers has le...

Regulator says 24 are at more immediate risk and may have to stop degree courses within next 12 months Fifty higher education providers in England are at risk of exiting the market within the next two to three years, MPs on the House of Commons education committee have been told as part of their inquiry into university funding and the threat of insolvency. The evidence follows last week’s gloomy forecast from England’s higher education regulator, the Office for Students (OfS), which warned that three in four universities were likely to be in the red next year as financial turmoil continues in the sector. Continue reading...

This week is COPE’s Publication Integrity Week 2025, with five days of online events and activities to highlight issues around publishing integrity. It is COPE’s (the Committee on Publication…

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I was fortunate to attend the annual Charleston Conference last week, and in addition to the lovely weather and beautiful surroundings of South Carolina in early November, I was able to enjoy a vib…

If you are anything like me, you will have been experiencing serious FOMO in the last week as colleagues and acquaintances descended on Frankfurt for the annual publishing social, interrupted intermittently by the Book Fair. From what most LinkedIn posts would have you believe, a good time was had by all, but some of that reporting may be a little OTT.

An intensive international study was coordinated by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and led by the BBC

Whatever your political persuasion, in recent times it seems apparent that things are not quite how they should be. Things are never perfect, of course, but no matter your views, there appears to b…

Cabell’s Journalytics and Predatory Reports helps researchers—and the librarians who support them—find appropriate venues for publication and avoid those known to exhibit predatory behaviors.

Close followers of recent geopolitics will be forgiven for wondering if the good guys and bad guys of the traditional world order have been swapping sides. When a dictator who has invaded a country…

There is an assumption held by many that predatory journals are a problem that only affects other people. A bit like a tropical disease or rare syndrome, it is something that is known to afflict others, but not you, your family, or your friends and colleagues. In the case of predatory publishing practices, this might be something we think only happens to other researchers outside the US or Europe. 

Facing pressures to stay competitive, researchers publish ever more, often at the cost of quality. Our author shows how this strategic trap can be compared to a prisoner’s dilemma, explains how this…

Richard Blair on the role his mother played in developing the 1945 political fable – and how it nearly didn’t get published

A small but growing number of academics are improperly taking credit for articles, citations, and authorships, allowing them to appear prestigious without having conducted their own research.

Medical research journals have long been the backbone of scientific advancement. They provide trusted outlets for sharing discoveries that shape healthcare, inform clinical practices, and ultimately save lives. Yet, in recent years, these journals have faced mounting threats that jeopardize their integrity, sustainability, and ability to disseminate high-quality research. Among the most pressing challenges are the continued growth of predatory journals, reductions in research funding, and shifting governmental, political, and policy environments.