Key developments in global scholarly publishing: negotiating a double-edged sword

Abstract

Over the last few years, the publishing industry has experiencedsignificant changes and developments, most of which have had a positiveinfluence on scholarly publishing. For instance, the gradual popularity ofopen access publishing has contributed to the wider access and readershipof published materials. Also, the recent development in the abilities of artifi-cial intelligence (AI) tools to assist in the publication process is laudable forits potential. The gradual shift from print to online publication is also a com-mendable development in global publishing. Not without their own chal-lenges, these developments, among others, have mostly impacted globalpublishing in a positive way. In the current study, the researchers’argumentstems from the notion that although these developments are invaluable,there are accompanying impediments that publishing professionals as wellas publishing outlets must consider. In response to these developments,role-players in the publishing industry must constantly reassess their pub-lishing processes in order to carefully manage and negotiate what is termedby this study as a‘double-edged sword’(capable of having positive andnegative consequences). This study reviews existing studies, draws viewsfrom publishing experts, and seeks opinions from scholars to establishmethods of negotiating some of the key developments in global publishing.