News: Academic Publishing Weekly

US attorney targets scientific journals, STM releases a draft report on AI, and the growth of “journal snatchers”

Posted on April 25, 2025 in News

Academic Journals Receive Letter from U.S. Attorney

Several journal editors have received letters from the interim United States Attorney for the District of Columbia claiming their journals are “partisans in various scientific debates.” Citing one such letter sent to the journal CHEST, Science explains that the attorney asks multiple questions regarding how journals handle conflicting viewpoints. For instance, one question posits, “How do you clearly articulate to the public when you have certain viewpoints that are influenced by your ongoing relations with supporters, funders, advertisers, and others?” The letters drew pushback on social media and from scientists. Daniel Kulp, chair of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), recommended journals consult legal advice due to the letters. Science also had coverage on a leaked Department of Health and Human Services budget proposal that appears to target funding for two journals operated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). [Science]

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STM Draft Report on AI Usage, Updates to Clarivate’s EndNote, and a PUP Conference Recap

The International Association of Scientific, Technical & Medical Publishers’s (STM) Task & Finish Group on AI Labelling Terminology has developed a draft recommendation on AI. The recommendation aims to “help publishers define, evaluate, and guide the transparent use of AI in manuscript preparation in the context of their individual editorial processes.” STM will accept feedback on the recommendations until May 31. Next up, Clarivate unveiled updates to its reference manager, EndNote. EndNote 2025 now contains “AI support, enhanced referencing tools, and journal matching capabilities” to support users’ research. Clarivate also revealed that it aims to make an EndNote Research Assistant open to subscribers later this year. Lastly, Publishers Weekly provided a recap of the recent “From Latin America to the World: Publishing Today” conference held by Princeton University Press (PUP) and GESEI, an organization on independent publishing in Latin America. University presses and publishing houses based in Latin America, Spain, and the United States convened to discuss topics including gender disparities in publishing, accessibility, and how to balance protecting intellectual property with the benefits of AI.

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The Proliferation of “Journal Snatchers”

It appears a group of “journal snatchers” are infiltrating academic publishing. According to Nature, a recent preprint analysis reveals that 36 journals previously owned by well-known publishers deteriorated in quality after being acquired by “a network of recently established international companies with no track record in the publishing industry.” Researchers found that companies are offering publishers “hundreds of thousands of euros in exchange for each journal” and stressed that many journals aren’t transparent about their new ownership. The researchers also found that article processing charges (APCs) and paper quantity increased following the acquisitions. Nature received few replies from companies regarding a request for comment, however two researchers noted they were wrongly listed as affiliated with the journals. Further, Nature reported that the 36 journals are no longer indexed in Scopus and 11 were delisted from the Web of Science. [Nature]

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Windham-Campbell Prizes Winners, the Charleston Conference Calls for Papers, and a New Albert Einstein Database

As part of Paradigm Publishing Services’ new foray into “database development, hosting and distribution,” the service provider is working with Princeton University Press (PUP) on the Collected Works of Albert Einstein. The database will feature “over 30 volumes of Einstein’s writing and correspondence curated by the editors at the Einstein Papers Project at the California Institute of Technology, and additional scholarship published by Princeton University Press.” Paradigm Publishing Services and PUP plan to finish work on the database next year. Turning to award updates, Yale University’s Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library revealed the winners of the Windham-Campbell Prizes. Grants of $175,000 were awarded to eight international writers in fiction, nonfiction, drama, and poetry, who were—by design—caught by surprise by the news. Lastly, the Charleston Conference is now receiving presentation proposals. The Conference will occur November 3rd through 7th, and proposal submissions close on June 27th.

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The Importance of Localization for Global Open Science

Despite the presence of multiple open science frameworks, Maryam Sayab, Director of Communications at the Asian Council of Science Editors (ACSE), underscores that implementation remains constrained in Asia and the Arab world. Sayab explained that most frameworks overlook “infrastructure gaps, linguistic barriers, and institutional limitations.” In addition, frameworks may not consider cultural differences and aren’t accompanied by appropriate training and resources. Sayab outlined several recommendations including increasing collaborations in the Global South, prioritizing local voices, and utilizing a diverse range of metrics. Sayab also called for additional “Open Science intermediaries” and highlighted grassroots efforts and workshops across Asia and Arab regions. Overall, Sayab stressed that, “Instead of pushing one-size-fits-all solutions, we should be building bridges that support mutual learning, co-creation, and contextual innovation.” [The Scholarly Kitchen]

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