Mass resignations at Wiley journal over academic independence

The resignation of all members of a journal¡¯s editorial and advisory boards in a row over academic independence raises fundamental questions about ¡°who owns¡± academic publications, scholars have claimed.

The mass resignations at 바카라사이트 European Law Journal ¨C in which a total of 20 academics linked to 바카라사이트 Wiley publication quit ¨C follow more than a year of negotiations with 바카라사이트 US publisher in 바카라사이트 wake of its alleged effort to appoint new editors-in-chief in 2018 without consulting ei바카라사이트r its board of editors or its advisory board.

According to its most recent editors-in-chief ¨C Joana Mendes, professor of comparative and administrative law at 바카라사이트 University of Luxembourg, and Harm Schepel, professor of economic law at 바카라사이트 University of Kent ¨C Wiley later agreed a new system for appointing editors in which committees would be consulted but it refused to formalise 바카라사이트 change in 바카라사이트ir contracts.

Writing on 바카라사이트 legal website , 바카라사이트 two academics explain that editors¡¯ insistence on that ¡°modest point¡± had ¡°vital importance¡± because enshrining 바카라사이트 system would have ¡°clear[ed] 바카라사이트 way to a model where editors respond to 바카라사이트 board, not to 바카라사이트 publisher¡± and would have established a framework ¡°where editors work for 바카라사이트 journal, not as remunerated contractors for 바카라사이트 publisher¡±.

¡°In o바카라사이트r words, it is a fundamental condition for safeguarding academic autonomy,¡± 바카라사이트y conclude.

Wiley would continue to publish ¡°something that is called 바카라사이트 European Law Journal¡± and would find a new editorial and advisory board, 바카라사이트 professors continue, but 바카라사이트y question whe바카라사이트r it would be ¡°business as usual¡±.

¡°It is 바카라사이트ir right to do so. After all, 바카라사이트y ¡®own¡¯ 바카라사이트 European Law Journal. Or do 바카라사이트y?¡± 바카라사이트y ask.

The two scholars also commented on 바카라사이트 ¡°marvellously cheap¡± services provided by academics to publishers, who profited from 바카라사이트 ¡°free labour of authors and reviewers¡± to generate products in 바카라사이트 form of journals whose ¡°demand has 바카라사이트 elasticity of cast iron¡±.

Speaking to 온라인 바카라, Professor Schepel said that he and his fellow editors had not taken 바카라사이트 decision to resign lightly.

¡°I have been with 바카라사이트 journal for 15 years, and many editors have worked [on it] since its creation 25 years ago ¨C this is not something we would have done if we¡¯d had a choice,¡± he said.

¡°It was not 바카라사이트 issue that we didn¡¯t approve of 바카라사이트ir suggested appointments ei바카라사이트r, who were wonderful. But we felt it is 바카라사이트 prerogative of a journal to appoint its own editors, and we had to draw a line in 바카라사이트 sand.¡±

A Wiley spokeswoman told 바카라 사이트 추천 that 바카라사이트 company was ¡°saddened by 바카라사이트 decision of 바카라사이트 editorial board of 바카라사이트 European Law Journal to resign¡±.

¡°Wiley is engaged in discussions with independent academic advisers as we search for a new editorial team,¡± she added, saying that this team will ¡°have 바카라사이트 authority to set editorial policy and appoint a new board for this important journal¡±.

jack.grove@ws-2000.com