760

I just finished reviewing for an OA journal. They asked me to submit my report within ten days and did not offer any compensation whatsoever (I submitted after two weeks, just because). They did not even offer me a discount off their €1,790 APC. 

I accept every reviewing request I receive as long as the topic is within my field. I need the learning more than the extra time I have to put to work on it. I also don’t have any distinguished presence to stand against a journal, however unfair (i.e. normal) their behaviour towards authors and reviewers. Maybe I just don’t have any principle whatsoever. 

From all the questionable fund allocations that I have to face recently, I never really object the fact that there is no budget allocation for APC. For proofreading services, probably. But if I have €9,500 or even a discounted €1,790 fund, I’d rather spend it on chemicals, small equipments, or research assistants. They can easily worth one or more future articles. Because the problem is not institutions unwilling to pay APC, but publishers still charge egregious fee for publishing and subscription when everything is on the internet these days. And actually, as long as there are institutions willing to pay the egregious fee, the publishers will still be happy to charge for it. And everyone just want to publish so badly so what’s the point of taking stand against the whole publishing world. 

PS: There are people who are taking stand, working on a better scientific publishing environment. Forgive me for being too lazy to provide examples and links. It is Sunday and I just want to rant.