<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>In this opinion piece, some of the practices of academic publication in the biomedical field related to the rewarding, or the lack thereof, of peer reviewers are described and discussed. The role and possibly exploitative relationship of mainstream, established publishers of prestigious journals towards their contributors (authors), and peer reviewers is considered. In addition, the role and accountability of publishers and contributors in “predatory” journals is assessed. Professionals who are recruited by the publishing industry, especially the for-profit industry, either as peer reviewers or editors, to complete a professional task, should be rewarded financially as professionals, as for other sectors of the economy, and not simply exploited for free. Points systems or discounts off a publisher’s products do not constitute sufficient, or fair, compensation.</p></abstract>

In this opinion piece, some of the practices of academic publication in the biomedical field related to the rewarding, or the lack thereof, of peer reviewers are described and discussed. The role and possibly exploitative relationship of mainstream, established publishers of prestigious journals towards their contributors (authors), and peer reviewers is considered. In addition, the role and accountability of publishers and contributors in “predatory” journals is assessed. Professionals who are recruited by the publishing industry, especially the for-profit industry, either as peer reviewers or editors, to complete a professional task, should be rewarded financially as professionals, as for other sectors of the economy, and not simply exploited for free. Points systems or discounts off a publisher’s products do not constitute sufficient, or fair, compensation.

Free editors and peers: squeezing the lemon dry

Ethics & Bioethics

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

{"article-title":"Free editors and peers: squeezing the lemon dry"}

In this opinion piece, some of the practices of academic publication in the biomedical field related to the rewarding, or the lack thereof, of peer reviewers...

Free editors and peers: squeezing the lemon dry

Published Online: Dec 28, 2016

Page range: 203 - 209

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/ebce-2016-0011

Keywords
academic publishing, exploitation, fairness, peer review

© 2016 Jaime A. Teixeira da Silva et al., published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Free editors and peers: squeezing the lemon dry

Published Online: Dec 28, 2016

Page range: 203 - 209

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/ebce-2016-0011

Keywordsacademic publishing, exploitation, fairness, peer review

© 2016 Jaime A. Teixeira da Silva et al., published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
academic publishing, exploitation, fairness, peer review