Quality Of Journal Research Articles

Evaluating the Quality of Studies Assessing COVID-19 Vaccine Neutralizing Antibody Immunogenicity

Objective: COVID-19 vaccine-neutralizing antibodies provide early data on potential vaccine effectiveness, but their usefulness depends on study reliability and reporting quality. Methods: We systematically evaluated 50 published post-vaccination neutralizing antibody studies for key parameters that determine study and data quality regarding sample size, SARS-CoV-2 infection, vaccination regimen, sample collection period, demographic characterization, clinical characterization, experimental protocol, live virus and pseudo-virus details, assay standardization, and data reporting. Each category was scored from very high to low or unclear quality, with the lowest score determining the overall study quality score. Results: None of the studies attained an overall high or very high score, 8% (n = 4) attained moderate, 42% (n = 21) low, and 50% (n = 25) unclear. The categories with the fewest studies assessed as ≥ high quality were SARS-CoV-2 infection (42%), sample size (30%), and assay standardization (14%). Overall quality was similar over time. No association between journal impact factor and quality score was found. Conclusions: We found that reporting in neutralization studies is widely incomplete, limiting their usefulness for downstream analyses.

The impact of misinformation on social media in the context of natural disasters

Abstract Background Rapid dissemination of information during natural disasters plays a crucial role in managing public responses and ensuring safety. Social media can be a tool to disseminate lifesaving information but is also a ground for the propagation of misinformation. This study examines the impact of misinformation spread through social media in the context of natural disasters and explores related dynamics, effects, and countermeasures. Methods Cochrane and PRISMA recommendations were used for protocol development and sound reporting. Key terms related to misinformation, social media and natural disasters were used, with the search conducted in PubMed, and without time limitation for adequate capture. Only research papers in English were eligible for inclusion. Journal and article quality were considered. No restriction was imposed on country or age of target populations. Results Findings reveal significant influence of misinformation on public behaviour during disasters, often leading to panic and hindering effective disaster management. Specific characteristics of misinformation were identified, incl. its origins and spread mechanisms; proximity -both spatial and social- was found to be a critical factor in terms of spread and reach. Emerging evidence highlights the importance of trusted sources to effectively counter misinformation, yet response time remains a critical challenge. Technical detection of misinformation can help combat it but requires further enhancements for real-time application in diverse disaster scenarios. Conclusions Misinformation on social media poses complex challenges to disaster management, affecting both individual and societal resilience. Proactive communication strategies are critical, as is the development of advanced verification tools, and public education strategies to combat misinformation. Future research should focus on refining strategies to enhance disaster preparedness and response, ensuring a resilient and well-informed public.

The Emotional Impact of Journalistic Images Depicting Natural Disasters on Affected Populations

ABSTRACT This study analyses journalistic images of the volcanic eruption of La Palma (Canary Islands, Spain) in 2021. We prioritized the perspective of image reception to find out the audience”s feelings and level of satisfaction. We also investigated the application of ethical recommendations and the presence of new trends in journalism in the coverage of this natural disaster. We surveyed a sample of individuals who were asked about their feelings, emotions, and level of satisfaction with the journalistic images of the event. The results reveal that journalism driven by spectacle and emotion prevailed over preventive, constructive and solution-oriented journalism. A noteworthy conclusion highlights the need for the ethical training of journalists and newsroom managers to promote modern, quality journalism. This necessity arises due to the increasing numbers of natural disasters affecting populations.

Editorial diversity correlates with journal impact factor and author diversity in cardiothoracic surgery.

While there are no widely accepted diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) metrics for journals, geographic and sex diversity across a journal's editorial board may provide a surrogate measure of its commitment to DEI. We explored the association between journal quality and DEI metrics for cardiothoracic surgery (CTS) journals and investigated whether editorial diversity correlates with diversity across published articles. We collected the following data for 30 CTS journals: country of publication (categorized by income level), journal quality metrics (citation-based metrics, e.g., impact factor (IF) or H-index), and sex and geographic representation across editorial boards and published articles. Bivariate correlations between numeric variables were assessed using Spearman's correlation. Female representation across editorial boards was 12.1%. Most editorial board members belonged to the United States (35.2%), with only 7.4% from the lower-middle-income countries and 0% from low-income countries. IF showed a strong positive correlation with female editorial representation (r=0.70) but an inverse correlation with low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) editorial representation (r=-0.45). Female editorial representation demonstrated a significant positive correlation with female first authorship (r=0.45), whereas LMIC editorial representation correlated strongly with LMIC corresponding authorship (r=0.85). Women and researchers from LMICs are in the minority across editorial boards of CTS journals. However, a strong correlation between journal H-index and female editorial representation indicates that top-ranked journals are spearheading efforts to improve equitable sex-based and gender representations. Similar efforts are required to ensure more global geographic representation across editorial boards and top-ranked CTS journals are the best placed to lead by example.

What’s a news media brand worth? Investigating the effect of cognitive brand representations on recipients’ quality assessment of news articles

News recipients evaluate the quality of journalistic news articles based on the article’s journalistic quality and its media brand. We argue that differentiating a news media’s brand identity from recipients’ cognitive associations with the brand offers a valuable perspective to understand quality evaluations in a more detailed way. We, therefore, specify the effect of media brands on the quality evaluation by including consumer-based brand equity (CBBE) as a mediator and investigate this mediation effect for five quality dimensions and a global quality measure. Based on a two (high vs low quality) x three (quality brand vs tabloid brand vs control group) between-subject experiment with 469 German respondents, we conducted structural equation modeling to investigate the direct effects of media brands on recipients’ quality assessment of news articles and the mediating effect via CBBE. We found mediation effects of the media brand via CBBE on all quality dimensions and the global measure. In addition, two direct media brand effects with opposite effect directions than expected could be identified. All results are discussed concerning further theory development and practical implications.

The Value of Grey Literature on Climate Change Research in the Philippines: A Bibliometric Analysis

This study highlights the value of grey literature in climate change research in the Philippines, emphasizing its essential role in understanding the issue within the country’s unique socioeconomic and natural environment. A bibliometric analysis of publications in local journals reveals that various types and formats of grey literature are not merely supplementary but essential for communicating climate change, its effects, and adaptation strategies. Despite the prevalence of major publishers, a substantial amount of research in the country continues to be disseminated through local journals. However, these journals face significant challenges, including limited coverage in major databases and concerns about quality, which hinder their global recognition and impact. The findings recommend that the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) enhance the capacity of higher education institutions (HEIs) to improve the quality and credibility of local journals. This improvement would increase their visibility and reach, ensuring that the comprehensive body of Filipino research is preserved, recognized, and utilized in the global discourse on climate change. Consequently, this will foster a more inclusive and informed approach to understanding and addressing this global challenge.

Journalism as a Service: How Tablet News Service Influences Subscriber Retention and Long-Term Profitability

With the decline of advertising revenue, the newspaper industry faces the challenge of increasing audience-supported revenue. While news organizations must provide quality journalism to their readers, a complementary approach is to create better reading experiences using mobile news delivery. Focusing on the reading experience and building a long-term relationship are tenants of service-dominant logic theory. We study the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, which provided its subscribers iPads with training and tech support while discontinuing its print edition. We analyze clickstream and subscription data to examine how participating in the iPad program influences subscriber retention, how the effect of the iPad program varies by region, and whether the customer lifetime value (CLV, discounted expected future profits) of subscribers who enrolled in the iPad program outweighs the cost of the program. The iPad program decreases subscriber churn across regions and subscriber segments. The CLV of subscribers in the iPad program is greater than the cost of iPads, training, and tech support, with newer subscribers showing higher CLV. The results demonstrate the importance of shifting to service-oriented approach in journalism and the potential of mobile devices to increase readership and long-term profitability.

"The Best Home for This Paper": A Qualitative Study of How Authors Select Where to Submit Manuscripts.

For authors, selecting a target journal to submit a manuscript is a critical decision with career implications. In the discipline of medical education, research conducted in 2016 found that authors were influenced by multiple factors such as a journal's prestige and its mission. However, since this research was conducted the publishing landscape has shifted to include a broader variety of journals, an increased threat of predatory journals, and new publishing models. This study updates and expands upon how medical education authors decide which journal to submit to with the aim of describing the motivational factors and journal characteristics that guide authors' decision making. The authors conducted five qualitative focus groups in which twenty-two medical education authors and editors participated. During the focus groups participants were engaged in a discussion about how they select a journal to submit their manuscripts. Audio from all focus groups was transcribed. Transcripts were analyzed using codebook thematic analysis. Participants considered multiple factors when selecting a target journal. Factors included a journal's impact, the scope of a journal, journal quality, and technical factors (e.g., word limits). Participants also described how social factors influenced their process and that open access plays a role that could both encourage or deter submission. The findings describe the motivational factors and influential signals that guide authors in their journal selection decision making. These findings confirm, extend, and update journal selection factors reported in medical education and other disciplines. Notably, these findings emphasize the role of social factors, relationships and personal experiences, which were absent from previous work. Additionally, we observed increased consideration of open acces and a shift away from an emphasis on journal prestige.

The implications of COVID-19 on regional journalism in far north Queensland: Measuring the heart rate of local communities

In 2020, COVID-19 thrust newsrooms into lockdown, affecting how journalists source, gather and report news. According to media giant News Corp, the pandemic fast-tracked its axing of more than 112 community newspapers, already vulnerable following a decade of gradual decline exacerbated by the arrival of digital technology. Consequently, hundreds of jobs were slashed and ‘news deserts’ were created across vast swathes of rural Australia, including far north Queensland. This article looks closely at the mediascape in far north Queensland from a journalism industry perspective during COVID-19, a time which saw a raft of differing and, sometimes, conflicting pressures exerted on journalists – from complying with health and safety regulations to fulfilling the community’s insatiable hunger for information. Through an online survey and long-form interviews with journalists, the study informing this article focuses on what happens when newsrooms are centralized, diminished in resources and the most senior journalists are made redundant and, as such, no longer available to mentor or control journalistic quality. It also observes the arrival of a new and independent press or ‘green shoots’ while casting an eye on the future of local news.

Evaluation of Health Care Science and Services Journals: Impact Factors and Ranking Indicators

ABSTRACT Assessing the quality of journals in the realm of health care science and services is an intricate and vital pursuit, especially given the swift evolution of health care research amidst global challenges and technological progress. Bibliometric indicators have emerged as indispensable instruments for quantifying and comparing the impact, reach, and significance of scholarly contributions. In this study, a range of bibliometric indicators, including Impact Factor, Eigenfactor Score, Cite Score, and h-index, were utilized. We curated a list of 105 health care science and services journals using data from the Journal Citation Report (JCR) within the Web of Science (WOS), journal metrics from the Scopus database (Cite Score and SNIP), and h5-index from Google Scholar. Additionally, the SCImago Journal Ranking (SJR) was obtained from its official website. Subsequently, Bivariate Pearson’s (r) and Spearman’s (ρ) correlation coefficient tests were conducted to evaluate ranking correlations. The findings revealed strong Pearson’s (r) statistical correlations between JIF and CS (r = 0.908) and between JIF and SJR (r = 0.875), while moderate correlations were observed between JIF and H5-median, H5-index, and SNIP (r = 0.769, r = 0.730, and r = 0.645, respectively). Spearman’s rho analysis indicated high correlations between JIF and CS (ρ = 0.907) and between JIF and SJR (ρ = 0.863), with lower correlations among H5-median, SNIP, and H5-index indicators (ρ = 0.798, ρ = 0.763, and ρ = 0.750, respectively).

Veteran journalists and ‘Vieilles Filles’: how gender, age and journalism congregate in The French Dispatch

ABSTRACT This study set out to understand how representational practices of journalism and age congregate in the fiction movie The French Dispatch. Employing textual analysis, we found that the film engages with three overlapping tropes in which journalism and age congregate. First, it represents journalists as different from “normal civilians” especially in their state of loneliness which is a constant throughout the narrative. This difference narrative is especially invigorated for journalists that demographically deviate from the norm in which older women are labeled as “old maids.” Second, the film represents an intergenerational conflict, specifically in relation to explorations of journalistic neutrality. Last, the commercial nature of journalism is addressed through the representation of an older mentoring editor-in-chief who protects journalistic quality against commercial pressures. By combining the lens of journalism and ageism, we uncovered how both concepts congregate and create a unique romanticized perspective on the profession as “it used to be.”

Sensationalism versus Substance: Exploring “Viral” and “Quality” Journalism in the Greek Public Sphere

In an era dominated by the digital revolution, the distribution of information has undergone a profound transformation. The duality of “quality journalism” and “viral journalism” has become an important theme in the modern media landscape. This paper explores the scope of information dissemination, dissecting the fundamentals, challenges, characteristics, and trends associated with both “quality” and “viral” journalism. Utilizing the Greek political scene as a case study, this paper aims to examine the tensions and trade-offs inherent in journalistic practices within the context of contemporary information dissemination. Analyzing closely media coverage surrounding events such as the election of Stefanos Kasselakis, the new President of the SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance party, we seek to elucidate the delicate balance between viral and quality journalism. By shedding light on these dynamics, our study aims to provide a nuanced understanding of how journalism navigates the tension between virality and quality within the Greek political sphere in a “post-politics” era.

Mentorship program to elevate journal quality and rankings in Indonesia: a case study

This article explores the best practices of mentorship programs in all journals at Universitas Airlangga. The university has established a journal mentoring team, as mandated by the rector’s regulation, which is responsible for guiding journals through preparation, submission, management, policy, and overall quality improvement. A case study was conducted to explore the mentoring mechanisms at Universitas Airlangga. Mentors were selected from among experienced editors at the university, each with a distinguished background in managing their own journals. The mentorship program successfully led to the indexing of 14 journals in Scopus, one in Web of Science (WoS), 85 in the Science and Technology Index (SINTA), and 60 in Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ). The strategies used can be shared with other universities to assist their journal editors. The mentorship program at Universitas Airlangga has significantly improved the quality and international visibility of its academic journals. This is evidenced by the successful indexing of numerous journals in prestigious databases including Scopus, WoS, SINTA, and DOAJ. The structured mentoring, clear targets, and comprehensive institutional support were instrumental in achieving these results. This model serves as a scalable best practice for other universities seeking to improve their journal quality and global standing.

AI in the newsroom: a collective case study about newsworker-AI collaboration in the German newspaper industry

ABSTRACT The adoption of AI in newsrooms can fundamentally change journalistic processes. Nowadays, AI is increasingly able to fulfil journalistic tasks, evolving the roles and interaction of newsworkers and AI. Given its high impact, the question arises how AI and newsworkers can collaborate productively in the newsroom to maintain or even improve journalistic quality. This study analyses newsworker-AI collaboration at four German newspaper publishers through the lens of Human-Machine Communication (HMC). Based on the data, a model for the evaluation of newsworker-AI collaboration is developed and validated. The results show that the interaction intensity between newsworkers and AI as well as the creation of knowledge in the newsroom can be identified as relevant evaluation criteria for newsworker-AI collaboration.

Unraveling retraction dynamics in COVID-19 research: Patterns, reasons, and implications

ABSTRACT Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, while the world sought solutions, few scholars exploited the situation for personal gains through deceptive studies and manipulated data. This paper presents the extent of 400 retracted COVID-19 papers listed by the RetractionWatch database until the month of February 2024. The primary purpose of the research was to analyze journal quality and retractions trends. Evaluating the journal’s quality is vital for stakeholders, as it enables them to effectively address and prevent such incidents and their future repercussions. The present study found that one-fourth of publications were retracted within the first month of their publication, followed by an additional 6% within six months of publication. One third of the retractions originated from Q1 journals, with another significant portion coming from Q2 (29.8%). An analysis of the reasons for retractions indicates that a quarter of retractions were attributed to multiple causes, predominantly associated with publications in Q2 journals, while another quarter were linked to data issues, primarily observed in Q1 publications. Elsevier retracted 31% of papers, with the majority published as Q1, followed by Springer (11.5%), predominantly as Q2. The study also examined author contributions, revealing that 69.3% were male, with females (30.7%) mainly holding middle author positions.

Towards a Converged Post-Covid Journalism Training in Africa: A Case Study of South Africa, Zimbabwe and Eswatini

ABSTRACT Our study on the experiences of selected African journalism educators during the Covid-19 pandemic period offer valuable insights into the future of journalism education in Africa, where convergent learning holds prospects in an increasingly digitised world. A convergent teaching and learning approach, combining face-to-face and online teaching, is crucial for the delivery of quality journalism training during periods of macro shocks in Africa. This qualitative study used three country case studies of Zimbabwe, South Africa and Eswatini to understand the reconfigurations accompanying convergence in teaching and learning and offering prospects for the future. Our findings show that the most affected learning aspects were courses involving practical learning as well as the internship component that requires students to be seconded to media houses of choice to develop a practical feel for the newsroom. We learnt that journalism’s practical components make it hard for instructors to conduct convergent learning because of resource constraints and limited literacy in some technology. However, and far from the discourse of scarcity and impoverishment, educators displayed high levels of creativity, adaptability and agency beyond the structuring influence of deprivation, presenting prospects for convergence in teaching and learning in post-Covid Africa.

Media Narratives Beyond the Headlines: A Review on Global Media Coverage of the COP15 UN Biodiversity Summit

Global media narratives refer to how international news outlets frame and present stories, shaping public perception and discourse on significant events like the COP15 UN Biodiversity Summit. This includes the themes, tones, and emphases used by different media sources to convey the importance, implications, and outcomes of such global events. This study explores global media coverage and narratives during the COP15 summit in December 2022, aiming to analyze dominant themes presented by international media, identify differences in reporting approaches among major outlets, and evaluate the influence of these narratives on public awareness and policy discourse regarding biodiversity. Using content analysis, the research studies news from various outlets to identify and quantify key themes such as ecological urgency, economic implications, policy negotiations, and scientific discoveries. Comparative analysis highlights variations in coverage focus, tone, and depth, revealing how regional contexts and media ownership influence reporting styles. Findings indicate that while some media outlets prioritize policy negotiations and economic implications, others emphasize ecological urgency and scientific findings, leading to varied public and policy responses. This research underscores the critical role of media in shaping public understanding and influencing policy debates on biodiversity. By providing insights into effective reporting practices, the study aims to enhance the quality of environmental journalism and foster informed public and policy engagement with biodiversity issues, contributing to the broader discourse on environmental communication and the power of media narratives in addressing global environmental challenges.

Fragmented and Polarised? The German Public Sphere during the Russian Invasion of Ukraine

The digital age has brought about fundamental questions about the viability of the public sphere. While a shared and inclusive communicative space is widely considered to be a fundamental requirement for democratic deliberation, the rise of social (and other digital) media has prompted concerns about a potential fragmentation of the public sphere. Accompanied by the simultaneous decline of quality journalism, social media have facilitated the emergence of semi-public echo chambers of like-minded people. Against the backdrop of debates on post-truth politics, such echo chambers are important arenas for the dissemination of false information, but they also undermine the epistemic added value of deliberation by inhibiting discussion on competing truth claims. Based on the argument that post-truth politics is intimately connected to the fragmentation of the public sphere, this article analyses the extent to which the German public sphere has shown signs of polarisation and fragmentation in the context of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in early 2022. This is done by investigating to which extent to which debates in leading German media have managed to adequately represent all relevant perspectives on the Russian invasion, and conversely to which extent dissonant voices have been excluded from such debates.

Gabinetes y medios de comunicación: una lucha desigual que empobrece la información

This article aims to analyse the transformation of relationships between press offices and media professionals, especially concerning the strategies of institutional communication departments to convey their messages while bypassing journalistic quality filters. The study explores how this occurs and the challenges in preventing it within media newsrooms. To achieve this, twelve in-depth interviews were conducted with industry professionals who have held or currently occupy key positions in institutional communication offices and have prior experience in the news media or have even returned to media roles. The results highlight the demanding immediacy and precarious working conditions faced by many journalistic newsrooms. These conditions contribute to a greater ease for institutional messages to be initially published without any filter or in-depth analysis by journalists. This paves the way for communication offices to effectively place their messages in the public domain and achieve the desired impact.

Citation advantage of positive words: predictability, temporal evolution, and universality in varied quality journals

Citation advantage of positive words: predictability, temporal evolution, and universality in varied quality journals