Scholars continue to publish in high-impact journals, despite knowing the limitations of impact metrics, because they serve as recognisable benchmarks in the highly competitive academic job market. Journal editors have often signed with or stayed with big publishers because these publishers simplify their tasks. Non-capitalist publishing alternatives align more closely with academic principles of free scholarly exchange and public outreach, but they are often too complicated. To move away from the current broken system, we need a clear alternative to the Journal Impact Factor, reassess what articles signify for academic careers, and stop paying APCs. Finally, we need long-term funding for Open Access journals hosted by academic institutions, not only in Europe but globally, especially in Africa, to prevent it from becoming as US-Eurocentric as the overall higher education sector.
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