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I was contacted by MDPI's Nutrients to edit a Special Issue.
I was seriously considering it, then @marcfbellemare @maritkragt advised against it.
I am now convinced MDPI is milking the Nutrient cash cow, and will decline the offer.
Why? Look at this then follow on the thread.
I was seriously considering it, then @marcfbellemare @maritkragt advised against it.
I am now convinced MDPI is milking the Nutrient cash cow, and will decline the offer.
Why? Look at this then follow on the thread.
Nutrients is a good Open Access journal in nutrition science. I refereed for them and the article was excellent. Respected colleagues publish & edit Special Issues there.
Nutrients is a success story. Founded in 2009, thanks to good work of the editors its IF shot to 4 by 2013.
Nutrients is a success story. Founded in 2009, thanks to good work of the editors its IF shot to 4 by 2013.
Then in 2018 all 10 senior editors - the people behind the success - resigned, lamenting pressure to lower the quality and let in more papers.
Story: https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2018/09/open-access-editors-resign-after-alleged-pressure-publish-mediocre-papers
Summary:
"we quit 'cause you want to flood the journal";
"no way, we would be stupid to do that".
Story: https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2018/09/open-access-editors-resign-after-alleged-pressure-publish-mediocre-papers
Summary:
"we quit 'cause you want to flood the journal";
"no way, we would be stupid to do that".
So in 2018 MDPI CEO said they were not going to lower the bar, just let in quality papers, and if there were more, so be it.
Then this happened.
Number of SIs nearly doubled in 2018 right after the editor change. It more than doubled in 2019 to 171, and is at 232 for 2020.
Then this happened.
Number of SIs nearly doubled in 2018 right after the editor change. It more than doubled in 2019 to 171, and is at 232 for 2020.
I am not making a point about paper quality here -- maybe all these new Special Issues contain high quality papers that were left out of the traditional publication process.
But Open Access journals get a flat revenue per paper - nearly flat cost.
more papers = more profit.
But Open Access journals get a flat revenue per paper - nearly flat cost.
more papers = more profit.
MDPI is killing the cash cow.
MDPI's CEO Vazquez said “If I would be killing the cash cow, I would be stupid.”
Except he wouldn't.
His whole business model consists in creating rents (good journals) and then milk them dry.
You can always start anew. Or in a new field.
MDPI's CEO Vazquez said “If I would be killing the cash cow, I would be stupid.”
Except he wouldn't.
His whole business model consists in creating rents (good journals) and then milk them dry.
You can always start anew. Or in a new field.
This is an old business model, found in several industries.
Ever wondered why sequel movies are so bad? Second albums suck?
One reason is that a successful venture generates a rent, and you might have incentives to exploit it quickly, before it goes away. Or others do it.
Ever wondered why sequel movies are so bad? Second albums suck?
One reason is that a successful venture generates a rent, and you might have incentives to exploit it quickly, before it goes away. Or others do it.
If you think that it is easy to imitate your success - copy your guitar riffs, make a similar movie, set up an OA journal - then killing the cash cow is not stupid. It might be your best strategy.
I suspect MDPI is consciously doing this.
Breed - exploit - kill - repeat.
I suspect MDPI is consciously doing this.
Breed - exploit - kill - repeat.
For my personal story, I don't want any of this. I won't edit their SI.
For the bigger picture, I still think there are good papers in MDPI journals. I do not blame the authors publishing there. Hell, I do not even blame MDPI. It's a business.
Is it what we want for academia?
For the bigger picture, I still think there are good papers in MDPI journals. I do not blame the authors publishing there. Hell, I do not even blame MDPI. It's a business.
Is it what we want for academia?
