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The Challenges of Journal Start-up in the Digital Era
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The Challenges of Journal Start-up in the Digital Era

A special issue of Publications (ISSN 2304-6775).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2015) | Viewed by 36683

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Andrew Kirby

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ 85069-7100, USA
Interests: STEM publishing and digital delivery models; bibliometrics; best practices for editors, authors and reviewers

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

More has changed in journal publishing in the past twenty years than the previous four centuries. Digital technologies have transformed the submission, review, production and distribution of scholarly materials, with the result that there has been exponential growth in the number of papers published in an expanding roster of journals; some are mainstream, some highly specialized, some are produced by publishers who have existed since printing began and others are produced by small groups with niche interests.

This special issue will collect papers from authors with professional experience in the production of scholarly journals. Invitations are extended in particular to editors and board members who have worked to create new journals since the millennium, and who can address the challenges of establishing journals in a crowded marketplace where the norms of peer review are increasingly under scrutiny in the context of speedier production targets.

Professor Andrew Kirby
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Publications is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • editorial and review policies
  • copyright and legal issues
  • journal marketing
  • pricing models
  • niche publishing
  • publishing software
  • publishing technologies

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Editorial

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35 KiB  
Editorial
Editors and Journal Startup in the Digital Era
by Andrew Kirby
Publications 2015, 3(4), 232-236; https://doi.org/10.3390/publications3040232 - 12 Oct 2015
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3899
Abstract
More has changed in journal publishing in the past twenty years than the previous four centuries. Digital technologies have transformed the submission, review, production and distribution of scholarly materials, with the result that there has been exponential growth in the number of papers [...] Read more.
More has changed in journal publishing in the past twenty years than the previous four centuries. Digital technologies have transformed the submission, review, production and distribution of scholarly materials, with the result that there has been exponential growth in the number of papers published in an expanding roster of journals—some are mainstream, some highly specialized, some are produced by publishers who have existed since printing began and others are produced by small groups with niche interests. [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Challenges of Journal Start-up in the Digital Era)

Research

Jump to: Editorial, Other

539 KiB  
Article
The Challenges of Journal Startup in the Digital Era
by Andrew Kirby
Publications 2015, 3(4), 219-231; https://doi.org/10.3390/publications3040219 - 25 Sep 2015
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 6015
Abstract
This paper aims to contribute to the evolving literature on the new landscape of scholarly journals. It builds on a series of experiences as a journal editor which span the print and digital eras, and focuses on two current activities with new journals. [...] Read more.
This paper aims to contribute to the evolving literature on the new landscape of scholarly journals. It builds on a series of experiences as a journal editor which span the print and digital eras, and focuses on two current activities with new journals. One was designed as a synoptic journal in a broad multidisciplinary field, supported by a commercial publisher; the other a non-revenue journal which aims to showcase the work of undergraduates in the author’s institution. Despite the uniqueness of goals and delivery, some of the experiences—and challenges—have proved remarkably similar. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Challenges of Journal Start-up in the Digital Era)
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229 KiB  
Article
Cultural Editing for Linking City, Culture and Society
by Hiroshi Okano
Publications 2015, 3(3), 211-218; https://doi.org/10.3390/publications3030211 - 10 Sep 2015
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 4311
Abstract
City, Culture and Society (Elsevier) aims to stimulate a new interdisciplinary paradigm that embraces multiple perspectives and applies this paradigm to the urban imperative that defines the century. The journal is looking at an academic audience, but is also seeking new readers, [...] Read more.
City, Culture and Society (Elsevier) aims to stimulate a new interdisciplinary paradigm that embraces multiple perspectives and applies this paradigm to the urban imperative that defines the century. The journal is looking at an academic audience, but is also seeking new readers, such as those working in the public sector, those employed in the private sector, those who contribute to international organizations, and so on. The paper considers one methodological viewpoint for promoting interdisciplinary studies by using the concept—cultural editing—and shows some new horizons for urban studies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Challenges of Journal Start-up in the Digital Era)
747 KiB  
Article
Themed Volumes: A Blessing or a Curse?
by Mary R. Brooks and Stephen Ison
Publications 2015, 3(3), 174-189; https://doi.org/10.3390/publications3030174 - 20 Aug 2015
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 4971
Abstract
Research in Transportation Business and Management (RTBM) was launched in 2009 with the first volume appearing in August 2011. The format of the journal is somewhat different to that of conventional journals in that each volume is themed focusing on a particular aspect [...] Read more.
Research in Transportation Business and Management (RTBM) was launched in 2009 with the first volume appearing in August 2011. The format of the journal is somewhat different to that of conventional journals in that each volume is themed focusing on a particular aspect of transportation from a business and management perspective. This paper focuses on the format of the journal and the decisions taken at the time of launch, eventually drawing conclusions about the chosen format and whether it has been an effective format for the competitive space into which the journal was launched. With four years of production data available, the authors conclude that the format has offered both positive and negative aspects, but that overall the launch format chosen was right for the competitive environment faced. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Challenges of Journal Start-up in the Digital Era)
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149 KiB  
Article
Reclaiming Society Publishing
by Philip E. Steinberg
Publications 2015, 3(3), 150-154; https://doi.org/10.3390/publications3030150 - 13 Jul 2015
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 5257
Abstract
Learned societies have become aligned with commercial publishers, who have increasingly taken over the latter’s function as independent providers of scholarly information. Using the example of geographical societies, the advantages and disadvantages of this trend are examined. It is argued that in an [...] Read more.
Learned societies have become aligned with commercial publishers, who have increasingly taken over the latter’s function as independent providers of scholarly information. Using the example of geographical societies, the advantages and disadvantages of this trend are examined. It is argued that in an era of digital publication, learned societies can offer leadership with a new model of open access that can guarantee high quality scholarly material whose publication costs are supported by society membership dues. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Challenges of Journal Start-up in the Digital Era)
191 KiB  
Article
Setting up the Journal of Transport and Health, a New Cross-Disciplinary Journal
by Jennifer S. Mindell
Publications 2015, 3(2), 120-130; https://doi.org/10.3390/publications3020120 - 6 May 2015
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 5689
Abstract
The Journal of Transport and Health is a new journal, bringing together the impacts of transport on health and inequalities and the ways changes to transport policy and/or infrastructure affect these. It aims to: promote dialogue between the two research communities it serves; [...] Read more.
The Journal of Transport and Health is a new journal, bringing together the impacts of transport on health and inequalities and the ways changes to transport policy and/or infrastructure affect these. It aims to: promote dialogue between the two research communities it serves; improve the quality of data and its appropriate use; and encourage transfer of research into practice. The first volume of four issues was published in 2014; it is already abstracted and indexed in SafetyLit, ERIH PLUS, TRID, the TRIS and ITRD Databases. A substantial achievement is that the Social Sciences Citation Index added the journal within the first year, from the first issue onwards, which is rare. Before the end of 2014, the journal had exceeded its target by 2015 for: numbers of manuscripts submitted; editorial decisions made; articles accepted for publication; and articles downloaded. Challenges have included recruiting sufficient reviewers; setting standards for acceptance of manuscripts; and editors’ time commitments. In 2014, articles were downloaded in 77 countries, and we received submissions from 27 countries. Despite the plethora of scientific journals, Journal of Transport and Health has obviously filled a gap in interdisciplinary research “whose time has come”, in a timely and attractive manner. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Challenges of Journal Start-up in the Digital Era)

Other

Jump to: Editorial, Research

179 KiB  
Essay
It’s not Just the Author: The Reader and the Editor Are Dead, Too
by Ali Modarres
Publications 2015, 3(3), 168-173; https://doi.org/10.3390/publications3030168 - 18 Aug 2015
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 5431
Abstract
The world of academic publishing has changed significantly. In this short essay, I attempt to offer a few observations as the editor of an international journal, suggesting that we may need to have a more in-depth theoretical engagement with current publishing practices. This [...] Read more.
The world of academic publishing has changed significantly. In this short essay, I attempt to offer a few observations as the editor of an international journal, suggesting that we may need to have a more in-depth theoretical engagement with current publishing practices. This includes the diminishing role of editors, the nature of authorship and the related review process, and the ways in which the publishing industry responds to, and shapes, our academic publishing practices. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Challenges of Journal Start-up in the Digital Era)
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