Recently, we conducted a survey among the editorial teams working with Openjournals to gain insight into their various needs and challenges. We received an excellent response, with feedback from 28 out of 35 editorial teams. What are the main challenges and ambitions of these journals?
Key findings:
- Editorial workload: The median number of active editors per journal is 7.5, with a collective monthly workload averaging around 40 hours. The main tasks include communication, article review, and editorial meetings.
- Compensation: Only 36% of editors receive financial compensation, indicating a heavy reliance on voluntary contributions.
- Cost distribution: The median annual cost of running a journal is approximately €8,000, with expenses ranging from €2,000 to €25,000. The primary cost components include typesetting, editing, salaries, and hosting.
- Financial support: Available for 28 out of 30 journals, with half of them considering the support sufficient. However, only one-third of journals see this support as sustainable, highlighting the financial uncertainty many journals face.
- Non-financial needs: There is a clear demand for more technical support (website management), assistance with PR and marketing, finding articles, and increasing journal visibility. Editors are also interested in knowledge exchange with other editorial teams.
- Plans: Journals aim to increase both the number and impact of their articles, become the go-to journal in their field, and expand their reach with greater visibility.
- Challenges: The main identified challenges include securing funding, attracting high-quality submissions, finding reliable reviewers, and improving marketing efforts. Maintaining online visibility and ensuring the sustainability of open access were also significant concerns.
Summary
The survey results indicate that Openjournals editors are ambitious and dedicated to improving their journals while playing a key role in their communities. However, they face significant obstacles, particularly in terms of funding and resource allocation.
