Platinum Open Access journal editor: 'If the community thrives, the journal thrives'

From March to September 2022, the Platinum Open Access Funding (PLATO) project conducted a study on the Swiss Diamond Open Access landscape, the results of which were recently published. The study provided insights into the growing trend of Diamond Open Access journals in Switzerland, which are run by the scientific community and are free for both authors and readers. Despite the attractive features of the journals, the financial challenges faced by editors, who often work with small budgets and rely on volunteer efforts, pose significant hurdles.

The research, conducted by a joint initiative of six Swiss universities—including the University of Zurich (UZH), the University of Geneva, the University of Bern, the University of Neuchâtel, ETH Zurich and the Zurich University of the Arts—provided a comprehensive overview of the state of open access publishing and highlighted both the opportunities and obstacles faced by researchers and editors, a January UZH news release said. The PLATO study, titled "Mapping the Swiss Landscape of Diamond Open Access Journals," spanned from March to September 2022 and aimed to understand the growth and impact of Diamond Open Access journals. The journals are unique because they are free of charge for both authors and readers, aiming to empower researchers and promote unhindered dissemination of scientific knowledge.

"Open access publishing is a crucial aspect of modern academia, and the PLATO project seeks to explore the potential of Diamond Open Access journals in Switzerland," Bryan Luikart, an associate professor of molecular and systems biology at Dartmouth's Geisel School of Medicine and closely associated with the study, told Current Science Daily.

The PLATO study was particularly significant as it offered the first comprehensive overview of Diamond Open Access journals in Switzerland, comprising 186 journals covering a diverse range of disciplines and languages. The journals are primarily managed and published by researchers and research teams from universities and scientific academies.

The research team used a combination of database searches, expert consultations, interviews with editors, and surveys to delve deeply into the challenges and opportunities faced by Diamond Open Access journals. One of the key findings was the exponential growth of the journals since 2010, underscoring their increasing relevance in the academic landscape.

"The disciplinary specializations and local connections combined with strong international reach make the journals attractive for writers and readers alike," Luikart said. While the study showcased the potential of Diamond Open Access journals in empowering researchers and enabling unrestricted sharing of findings, it also highlighted financial challenges. The editorial offices of the journals often operate on very limited budgets and rely heavily on voluntary contributions from researchers in their respective fields. On average, it costs approximately CHF 15,000 per year to run a Diamond Open Access journal, making sustainability a pressing concern for many editors.

"The lack of sustainable funding options to support ongoing operations was a key and recurring theme in both the interviews and the survey conducted in the PLATO study," Luikart said.

Despite the financial challenges, Diamond Open Access journals serve as vital platforms for researchers to communicate and share their findings without commercial interests getting in the way. Many editors view their work as a service to the academic community, fostering a collaborative and inclusive approach to scientific publishing. The study also identified a need for better advisory services and information on best practices, such as indexing in databases, long-term archiving and providing metadata for articles.

"If the community thrives, the journal thrives," an editor of one of the journals said.