From: "Jim O'Donnell" <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Thu, 1 Oct 2015 07:14:45 -0700

https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2015/10/01/study-finds-huge-increase-articles-published-predatory-journals

The debate over the relative numbers and the application of the
'predatory' label will continue, of course, but two things seem clear:
 (1) when the bills are paid by parties interested in increasing the
number of articles published and lowering the quality, the system will
inevitably produce more lower quality articles -- how many is
debatable and what to do about it likewise; (2) it's an accident of
history that the implementation of that model of publishing comes at a
moment when large numbers of new players are entering the market from
developing countries looking for places to publish their articles, but
this accident increases the new pressure on the system.

My point is to suggest that finger-pointing and cluck-clucking and
exhortations to virtuous behavior are probably irrelevant.  Real and
important facts are changing in the way we do scientific publishing
and we should recognize those and plan systemically for ways to
mitigate a problem that will not be wished away. How can we better
insulate peer review from the financial incentives that press for
easier acceptance of more?

Jim O'Donnell
ASU