What is an academic journal broker?
Academic journal brokers are third parties that usually “help” researchers and authors find the right journals to publish their articles. They will also handle the submission process and negotiate publication terms with journal editors. But as academic journal brokers grow, they sometimes also provide services such as article creation and revision, which should be done by the author. To avoid such malpractice, at the Institute of Advanced Engineering and Science (IAES), we always conduct an initial screening to eliminate a submitted article if there is any brokerage involved.
Why is it better not to use a broker?
Some things to consider when using an academic journal broker:
- Cost, using a third party for academic publishing can have a financial impact. Brokerage fees can range from hundreds to thousands of dollars.
- Researchers are giving up some control over the publishing process (including revisions, manuscript preparation, etc.).
- There is a risk of potential malpractice, such as publishing in predatory journals or false information for publication in reputable journals.
- Finally, outsourcing publishing to a broker may hinder learning and development opportunities for researchers, as navigating the submission process can help researchers gain valuable knowledge and understanding of academic publishing, which is beneficial to their long-term careers.
The best course of action for those of you who want to publish research articles:
- Self-submission: Do it yourself! This process is very straightforward and of course, every journal has guidelines for authors on submission. In addition, this process allows the author to remain in full control of the article to be submitted and can avoid unnecessary costs. Make sure the process is done by you, or a member of your research team.
- Through university resources: Many universities have offices that support research and can provide guidance and assistance in the publication process.
By: I. Busthomi and S. D. Cahyo
