During the holiday weekend, all but one member of Elsevier’s editorial board was present. human evolution journal (JHE) resigned “with profound sadness and great regret.” According to Retraction Watchthis was helpful. online pdf Full text of the editor’s statement. It’s the 20th mass resignation According to Retraction Watch, many of them are in response to controversial changes in the business model used in the scientific publishing industry and have been removed from scientific journals starting in 2023 over a variety of talking points.
“This was a very painful decision for each of us,” board members said in a statement. “The editors who have overseen the journal for the past 38 years have invested significant time and energy in making JHE the leading journal for paleoanthropological research, and have remained loyal to the journal and its authors long after their terms have ended. and remained dedicated. [associate editors] Equally loyal and devoted. We all care deeply about our journals, our profession, and our academic community. However, we realized that we could no longer cooperate with Elsevier in good conscience. ”
The editorial board cited several changes made over the past decade that appear to run counter to the magazine’s long-standing editorial principles. This included eliminating support for copy editors and special issue editors and leaving those duties to the editorial board. When the board expressed the need for a copy editor, Elsevier’s response was that “editors should not be concerned with accuracy of language, grammar, readability, consistency, proper nomenclature and formatting. They said it was a “claim”.
A major reorganization of editorial boards is also underway, with the aim of reducing the number of associate editors by more than half, resulting in “fewer AEs handling more papers and moving them far outside their areas of expertise.” We will be dealing with various themes.”
In addition, a third tier that will function primarily in a nominal role after Elsevier takes “unilateral full control” of the composition of its editorial board by mandating annual contract renewals for all deputy editors in 2023. There are also plans to create an editorial board – which the board believes would undermine its editorial independence and integrity.
