2 - The Rise of Open Access Journals: Their Viability and Prospects for the African Scholarly Community
Corresponding Author(s) : Allison Möller
Africa Media Review,
Vol. 15 No. 1-2 (2007): Africa Media Review, Volume 15, n° 1 & 2, 2007
Abstract
Electronic publishing has enabled the publisher of scholarly journals to offer an enhanced high quality product, but one that comes bundled with unsatisfactory conditions: high prices, inflexible terms and copyright obstacles that severely restrict the optimal flow and use of information. Dissatisfied with the terms and limitations of traditional journals, individuals, groups and organisations have opted to advance a different model of journal. The open access movement may be seen as part of a critical trend that seeks to break the stranglehold of commercial expropriation of information. Open access journals are freely available for reading, copying, and disseminating. With growing support from many different quarters, the challenger to the $3.5 billion publishing industry packs a potentially destabilising punch. This paper will cover the rise of open access journals and examine the economics of the ‘author pays’ business model. Notwith-standing the appreciable benefits to readers, the impetus to overturn deeply entrenched traditions must also overcome significant barriers. These include the practice of the academic reward system, funding issues, perceptions about quality and integrity, as well as the fundamental problem of the digital divide. While the open access model also presents a serious threat to scholarly society publications, all initiatives to promote visibility of African journals should be explored.
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- Altbach, P. G.. and Teffera, D., eds, 1998, Knowledge Dissemination in Africa: The Role of Scholarly Journals, Bellagio Studies in Publishing, 8, Massachusetts: Bellagio Publishing Network.
- BioMed Central, 2004, ‘Open Access Journals Proven to Compete on Quality’, Press Release, 24 June, (http://www.biomedcentral.com/info/about/pr- releases?pr=20040624), Accessed 20 August 2004.
- Bjork, B. C., 2004,‘Open Access to Scientific Publications – An Analysis of the Barriers to Change?’, Information Research, 9 (2), Available online at http://informationr.net/ir/9-2/paper170.html, Accessed 20 August 2004.
- BNP Paribas Study [excerpts], 2003, Available online at http://www.earlham.edu/~peters/fos/news -letter/11-02-03.htm#paribas, 20 August 2004.
- Burdzy, K., 2002, ‘Mathematical Articles and Bottled Water’ (http://www.math.washington.edu /~burdzy/water.shtml), Accessed August 2004.
- Forero-Pinedo, C. and Jaramillo-Salazar, H., 2001, ‘The Access of Researchers from Developing Countries to International Science and Technology’, International Social Science Journal, 171, pp. 129-140.
- Friend, F., 2004, ‘Letter’. The Times Higher Education Supplement, May 28.
- Harnad, S., and Brody, T., 2004, ‘Comparing the impact of open access vs non-OA articles in the same journals’, D-Lib Magazine, 10 (4), June, Available online at http://www.dlib.org/dlib/june04/ 06contents.html, Accessed 20 August 2004. Jensen, M., 2003, ‘The Evolution of the Internet in Africa’, in Beebe, M., et al, Africa Dot Edu: IT Opportunities and Higher Education in Africa, New Delhi: Tata McGraw-Hill Publishing Company Limited, pp. 43-68.
- JISC., 2004, ‘JISC/OSI Journal Authors Survey Report’ (http://www.jisc.ac.uk/uploaded_documents /JISCOAreport1.pdf), Accessed 20 August 2004.
- King, D. W. & Tenopir, C., 2004, ‘An Evidence-based Assessment of the «author pays» Model’, Nature Web Focus, (http://www.nature.com/nature/focus/ accessdebate/26.html), Accessed 20 August 2004.
- Lor, P., 2004,’Knowledge Production, International Information Flows and Intel- lectual Property: An African Perspective’, Presentation at the Association of African Universities DATAD Workshop,
- Accra, Ghana, 19-20 February. (http://www.aau.org/datad/reports/2004workshop/lor.pdf), Accessed 20 August 2004. Okkerson, A., 2003, ’Towards a Vision of Inexpensive Scholarly Journal Production’, Libri, 53.
- Science & Technology Committee, House of Commons, 2004a, ‘Scientific Publication’, Uncorrected
- transcripts of Oral Evidence, March 1, March 8 and 21 April, (http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200304/cmselect/ cmsctech/uc399-i/uc39902.htm), Accessed 20 August 2004.
- Science & Technology Committee, House of Commons, 2004b, Scientific Publi- cation: Free for All? (http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200304/ cmselect/cmsctech/399/39902.htm.), Accessed 20 August 2004.
- Suber, P., 2003, ‘BNP Paribas Concludes that Open Access Threatens Elsevier’, (http://www.earlham.edu/~peters/fos/newsletter/11-02-03.htm#paribas), Accessed 20 August 2004.
- Suber, P., 2004, ‘Timeline of the Open Access Movement’, http://www.earlham.edu/~peters/fos/ timeline.htm, Accessed 20 August 2004.
- Teferra, D., 2003, ‘Scientific Communication and Research in African Universities: Challenges and Opportunities in the Twenty-First Century’, in Teferra, D., and Altbach, P., Handbook of Higher Education in Africa, Bloomington, Indiana: Indiana University Press, pp. 128-142.
- Walport, M., 2004, ‘Everyone’s a Winner’, Times Higher Education Supplement, May 7.
- Wellcome Trust, 2004, ‘Costs and Business Models in Scientific Research Fund- ing’, (http://www.wellcome.ac.uk/en/images/costs_business_7955.pdf), Accessed 20 August 2004.
References
Altbach, P. G.. and Teffera, D., eds, 1998, Knowledge Dissemination in Africa: The Role of Scholarly Journals, Bellagio Studies in Publishing, 8, Massachusetts: Bellagio Publishing Network.
BioMed Central, 2004, ‘Open Access Journals Proven to Compete on Quality’, Press Release, 24 June, (http://www.biomedcentral.com/info/about/pr- releases?pr=20040624), Accessed 20 August 2004.
Bjork, B. C., 2004,‘Open Access to Scientific Publications – An Analysis of the Barriers to Change?’, Information Research, 9 (2), Available online at http://informationr.net/ir/9-2/paper170.html, Accessed 20 August 2004.
BNP Paribas Study [excerpts], 2003, Available online at http://www.earlham.edu/~peters/fos/news -letter/11-02-03.htm#paribas, 20 August 2004.
Burdzy, K., 2002, ‘Mathematical Articles and Bottled Water’ (http://www.math.washington.edu /~burdzy/water.shtml), Accessed August 2004.
Forero-Pinedo, C. and Jaramillo-Salazar, H., 2001, ‘The Access of Researchers from Developing Countries to International Science and Technology’, International Social Science Journal, 171, pp. 129-140.
Friend, F., 2004, ‘Letter’. The Times Higher Education Supplement, May 28.
Harnad, S., and Brody, T., 2004, ‘Comparing the impact of open access vs non-OA articles in the same journals’, D-Lib Magazine, 10 (4), June, Available online at http://www.dlib.org/dlib/june04/ 06contents.html, Accessed 20 August 2004. Jensen, M., 2003, ‘The Evolution of the Internet in Africa’, in Beebe, M., et al, Africa Dot Edu: IT Opportunities and Higher Education in Africa, New Delhi: Tata McGraw-Hill Publishing Company Limited, pp. 43-68.
JISC., 2004, ‘JISC/OSI Journal Authors Survey Report’ (http://www.jisc.ac.uk/uploaded_documents /JISCOAreport1.pdf), Accessed 20 August 2004.
King, D. W. & Tenopir, C., 2004, ‘An Evidence-based Assessment of the «author pays» Model’, Nature Web Focus, (http://www.nature.com/nature/focus/ accessdebate/26.html), Accessed 20 August 2004.
Lor, P., 2004,’Knowledge Production, International Information Flows and Intel- lectual Property: An African Perspective’, Presentation at the Association of African Universities DATAD Workshop,
Accra, Ghana, 19-20 February. (http://www.aau.org/datad/reports/2004workshop/lor.pdf), Accessed 20 August 2004. Okkerson, A., 2003, ’Towards a Vision of Inexpensive Scholarly Journal Production’, Libri, 53.
Science & Technology Committee, House of Commons, 2004a, ‘Scientific Publication’, Uncorrected
transcripts of Oral Evidence, March 1, March 8 and 21 April, (http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200304/cmselect/ cmsctech/uc399-i/uc39902.htm), Accessed 20 August 2004.
Science & Technology Committee, House of Commons, 2004b, Scientific Publi- cation: Free for All? (http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200304/ cmselect/cmsctech/399/39902.htm.), Accessed 20 August 2004.
Suber, P., 2003, ‘BNP Paribas Concludes that Open Access Threatens Elsevier’, (http://www.earlham.edu/~peters/fos/newsletter/11-02-03.htm#paribas), Accessed 20 August 2004.
Suber, P., 2004, ‘Timeline of the Open Access Movement’, http://www.earlham.edu/~peters/fos/ timeline.htm, Accessed 20 August 2004.
Teferra, D., 2003, ‘Scientific Communication and Research in African Universities: Challenges and Opportunities in the Twenty-First Century’, in Teferra, D., and Altbach, P., Handbook of Higher Education in Africa, Bloomington, Indiana: Indiana University Press, pp. 128-142.
Walport, M., 2004, ‘Everyone’s a Winner’, Times Higher Education Supplement, May 7.
Wellcome Trust, 2004, ‘Costs and Business Models in Scientific Research Fund- ing’, (http://www.wellcome.ac.uk/en/images/costs_business_7955.pdf), Accessed 20 August 2004.