We Walk the Line

Abstract

Once upon a time, the primary function of journals was to offer researchers and academics in search of status and tenure a place to publish, and to provide graduate students with an outlet for their efforts. Although few people would admit it, at that time there was more concern about how authors would be viewed by their peers (by “peers,” I mean their colleagues who also conducted and published research) and how readers would deal with new information. Those days have almost disappeared. Now as then, dynamic tension exists among authors, editors, and readers. The arrogance of the old days has diminished, and few authors today would state publicly that it is the “reader's problem” when the reader cannot understand a paper or apply its findings. But there still is some resentment on the part of authors when editors demand that they write readable papers. Similarly, journals still hear from readers who believe that articles are too complicated to be understood easily. Some readers seem to want everything pre-digested and do not care what is lost in the process. The Journal does care, however. The Journal Editors take no solace from the fact that two of their most important constituent groups may not be completely happy. The old line is that if you are getting criticism from both sides, you are probably doing something …