Reforming science publishing

Abstract

Key points Peer review remains problematic, but only partial resolutions to the problems have been identified. The article processing charge financial model looks like a farmer who works hard to produce food but then must pay to sell his final products to consumers. Article categories are largely meaningless – ‘original articles’ are not the only original content, and how rapid are rapid communications? Word limits belong to the print environment and are overly proscriptive in the digital environment. Why is only one author identified as the corresponding author when all authors should take responsibility for their articles?