Coming to terms with the publishing landscape:

Postgraduate students & ECRs and the imperative to publish

Source of Image: http://countryroads.wordpress.com/;

Source of Image: http://eternalpostdoc.blogspot.com.au/2007/05/publish-or-perish-meh.html

Introduction to academic publishing system

Some personal anecdotes

Introduction to academic publishing system

• What is academic publishing?• For whom do we publish? (Audiences)• Why do we publish?

– Tradition?– Disciplinary requirements?– Critical dialogues?– University requirements?– Love of writing?

What matters in the university today?

• Securing employment: teaching and research the norm for academics

• Institutional reputation, nationally and internationally

• Funding• Government policies, eg ERA (Excellence in

Research in Australia) ranking of journals and assessments of research clusters

• Personal reputation in particular fields

University’s expectations of publishing during and after

postgraduate studies

• Pressure for results

• Competitiveness in job market

• Establishing reputation as a researcher in a field or discipline

• Contributing to the university’s own reputation

Types of publishing

• What is valued?

• Range of publishing options: conference proceedings, media articles, book reviews, journal articles, book chapters, books, reports, policy papers, etc

• Sole authored and co-authored

• Disciplinary requirements?

DISCIPLINES ARE DIFFERENT!

• Learn from other disciplines but fully understand publishing protocols in your own first!

• Some examples

Peer review

• What is it?

• Why does it matter?

• How does it operate?

• Understanding the rejection, revision, acceptance process

Comparisons between print publishing and open access (electronic publishing

PRINT

Traditional venue

Normally attached to University presses or commercial publishers (profit motive)

Wide range of options and qualities

Some require payment

Time frame from submission to publication can be long

Depending on journal, authors may only have one or two opportunities to check or amend their articles before publication

ELECTRONIC

Growing phenomenon

Once up and running, lower costs

Two types: a)traditional journals moving to digital repositories, retaining look and feel of printb)electronic journals born digital, some experimenting with format and mode of peer review

Also attached to University presses or commercial publishers, but not always

Time frame in theory quicker than print

Authors may have more opportunities for amendments, both before publication and after

How an electronic journal works

• Software controls process

• Authors submit on line

• Peer review process tracked

• Editing and galleying process tracked

• Authors can check progress, as can editors and reviewers

• Communication is standardised

BEWARE

• Predatory Journals• Titles as compelling as Golden Research

Thoughts, Advances in Forestry Letter, People’s Journal of Scientific Research, and Tactful Management Research Journal

• Associate Professor Jeffrey Beall, Uni Colorado: Schlarly Open Access website: http://scholarlyoa.com/

Some basic editorial tips for meeting journal requirements

• Select the right journal

• Do some sleuthing: read the journal and get a sense of its publishing contents and internal discussions

• Follow the journal guidelines to the letter!

• If new to publishing sound out the main editor

• Follow the journal guidelines for authors!

• Understand referencing systems

• Proof and spell check

• Don’t rush to publish

• Seek advice from people in your field

Essential resources

Style Guides

The Value of Writing

Guides

ALL OF US CAN WRITE BETTER

REGULARITY

WRITING IS A CRAFT