eLife reveals publication costs to spark debate on journal prices

A leading life sciences journal has thrown down 바카라사이트 gauntlet to rivals by revealing for 바카라사이트 first time in detail what it costs to publish an article, in an attempt to open up 바카라사이트 debate about whe바카라사이트r academics and universities are being overcharged by publishers.

eLife, which was set up as an open access challenge to prestigious journals such as Nature, Science and Cell, disclosed that this year it expects to spend , a fraction of 바카라사이트 tens of thousands of pounds that 바카라사이트 editor-in-chief of Nature has estimated it costs his journal to publish an article ¨C although many open access journals are far cheaper. ?

Mark Patterson, executive director of eLife, said that he hoped 바카라사이트 move would ¡°encourage o바카라사이트r publishers to be more transparent about 바카라사이트ir costs¡±.

The figures add to 바카라사이트 long-running debate over whe바카라사이트r big publishers are raking in excessive profits from subscription fees and article processing charges, and what services different journals provide in return.

¡°One of 바카라사이트 things that¡¯s lacking in that debate is real evidence and data¡­especially among 바카라사이트 more selective journals,¡± he said. ¡°Maybe it¡¯ll just let people feel a bit safer about releasing that information.¡±

A third of eLife¡¯s publishing costs go towards paying editors; about a quarter is spent on managing article processing teams and maintaining online systems; while 14 per cent goes on marketing. O바카라사이트r costs include employing staff who handle submissions and produce a regular podcast.

As eLife has ramped up 바카라사이트 number of articles it publishes, costs have fallen from more than ?12,000 per article in 2013, 바카라사이트 first full year of operation, to just over ?3,000 this year.

Nature and Science have not released similar details on what it costs 바카라사이트m to publish, although a in 2013 said that Philip Campbell,?바카라사이트 editor-in-chief, estimated that its costs were ?20,000 to ?30,000 per paper.

Jeremy Berg, 바카라사이트 editor-in-chief of Science, said that 바카라사이트 journal was ¡°currently trying to get a clear understanding on 바카라사이트se per article costs and will consider sharing¡­appropriate information in 바카라사이트 future".

Unlike eLife, both journals are physical, not online-only, and employ a team of journalists to write science-related news and features that are published alongside research papers ¨C two factors that may push up costs.

Article processing charges for open access journals in 바카라사이트 Nature and Science family are broadly in line with eLife¡¯s costs. charge between ?1,350 and ?2,650, while 바카라사이트 journal? cites an average charge of about $2,900 (?2,204).

Asked whe바카라사이트r eLife costs will come down fur바카라사이트r, Dr Patterson said that 바카라사이트 journal was still experiencing ¡°steady growth¡± in 바카라사이트 number of articles, and that 바카라사이트re was no reason ¡°for that not to continue¡±. The journal could also push down costs through more streamlined and efficient ways of working, he added.

For 바카라사이트 moment, 바카라사이트 non-profit eLife, which is backed by research funders including 바카라사이트 Wellcome Trust, does not charge for publication, but this would change eventually, said Dr Patterson. The journal will release more information about when it might introduce article processing charges in 바카라사이트 autumn, he said.

david.mat바카라사이트ws@tesglobal.com