Re: SAGE rolls out rewards program for all journal reviewers

[Ann Okerson <aokerson@pantheon.yale.edu>]

Given the conditions of this rewards program ["Reviewers will be offered
free 30-day access to all titles on the SAGE Journals Online platform, as
well as a 25% discount on all SAGE books."], what's the likelihood that
reviewers will see the final form of the articles that they peer reviewed?
Probably very small. And, in 30 days how realistic is it to to register
and have time to get the flavor of even the current journals in one's own
field (and persuade your library to subscribe, if doesn't already)?
Program is headed in the right direction, but seems like six months would
do the job better?  Ann Okerson


On Sat, 12 Feb 2011, FrederickFriend wrote

> The message below provides a welcome acknowledgment of the
> contribution made to the quality of academic journals by the
> academic community world-wide. The cynic in me wonders whether
> the timing of the announcement has anything to do with the
> announcement of an enquiry into the peer review system by the
> Science and Technology Committee of the UK Parliament, but it
> would be ungracious not to thank Sage for this gesture.
>
> The serious point is that the value of the contribution made by
> the academic community to journal quality needs to be brought
> into open debate. This is not to dismiss the value of a
> publisher's paid editorial staff in maintaining quality, but the
> financial value of time and expertise by unpaid peer reviewers
> has for too long been a hidden vital part of the journal business
> model. Recent work by JISC Collections has shown the financial
> value of the contribution made by UK academics, and if these
> costs were to be extrapolated world-wide and built into
> publishers' business models, the entire journal publishing
> industry would collapse. The cost of peer review would be too
> high to be recouped through journal prices. It would be good to
> know the value of the free access for peer reviewers Sage have
> built into their spreadsheets, but no doubt we shall be told that
> this is confidential information.
>
> Many peer reviewers are happy to give their time to undertake
> peer review without any payment, and some use it as a way to keep
> in touch with the work of their peers. Nevertheless their
> employing institutions may have an interest in the time spent on
> peer review, and currently universities receive no acknowledgment
> or benefit from the contribution made by their researchers to the
> journal business model. The basic point is that more openness is
> needed about the cost and value of peer review. The system is
> generally recognised to provide an assurance of quality, although
> greater openness in the way the system operates could prevent the
> occasional academic scandal when the system fails.
>
> Fred Friend
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> Date: Thu, 10 Feb 2011 08:30:26 -0800
> From: Publicity <publicity@sagepub.com>
> To: 'publicist@publicityconnections.com'
> Subject: SAGE rolls out rewards program for all journal reviewers
>
> SAGE rolls out rewards program for all journal reviewers
>
> Los Angeles, CA (February 10, 2011) - SAGE today announced a
> global reviewer rewards program providing those who review papers
> for its journals with free electronic access to the entire list
> of SAGE journals.
>
> The program, trialed in 2010 with a small number of titles, is
> now being offered for all 630+ journals currently published by
> SAGE. Reviewers will be offered free 30-day access to all titles
> on the SAGE Journals Online platform, as well as a 25% discount
> on all SAGE books.
>
> "The peer review process is the lynchpin of the scholarly
> publishing process, relying heavily on the services of reviewers
> and expert evaluators of submitted material," said Tessa
> Picknett, Associate Director, STM Journals, SAGE. "We rely on
> their expertise and judgment in refereeing submitted papers,
> providing feedback and helpful suggestions that ensure our
> journals publish the highest quality content. We're very pleased
> that we can offer this program along with our sincere thanks for
> their contributions."
>
> Reviewers will be able to register for free access after
> submitting their referee's report. They will be offered 30 days'
> free access to all SAGE journals via a hyperlink from the journal
> online peer review system. Reviewers will also be sent a
> promotional code that will enable them to order SAGE book titles
> at a 25% discount.
>