Academic publisher IGI Global has announced the "Reviewer of the Year" award to acknowledge the invaluable contributions of its dedicated peer reviewers in upholding the quality and ethicality of scholarly publishing. This announcement coincides with Peer Review Week 2023, a global event celebrating the importance of peer review in maintaining the integrity of academic research.
Peer Review Week, held from September 25-29 this year, serves as an annual gathering of researchers, publishers, editors, and reviewers to spotlight the pivotal role that peer review plays in ensuring the quality and credibility of academic scholarship. This year's theme, "Peer Review and The Future of Publishing," provides a platform for discussions and initiatives aimed at advancing the peer review process and aligning it with the evolving landscape of academic publishing.
The future of publishing, in the eyes of many, is closely intertwined with the ongoing transformation towards open access. While open access offers numerous advantages, including unrestricted access to research content, it also presents challenges, particularly regarding questionable peer review practices and predatory behaviors. The shift to open access publishing models should not come at the expense of ethical standards and research integrity. Hence, publishers must carefully scrutinize their peer review processes and reviewer programs to ensure that content is released under the open access model in the most ethical manner possible.
IGI Global has been at the forefront of this transformation, converting its entire journal collection, comprising nearly 200 journals, to open access within a span of two years to facilitate greater research accessibility. Throughout this transition, the peer review processes and quality control measures have remained steadfast and pivotal in maintaining the excellence and ethicality of manuscripts. Reviewers for these open access journals have played a critical role in upholding content quality and ensuring rapid publication turnaround times.
In recognition of the significant contributions made by IGI Global's peer reviewers in supporting the integrity of open access journals and their unwavering dedication to ensuring a swift and meticulous peer review process, the "Reviewer of the Year" award has been instituted.
This prestigious accolade seeks to honor the tireless efforts of IGI Global's editorial review board members in upholding the standards of scholarly publishing. Reviewers serve as the cornerstone of the peer review process, generously dedicating their time and expertise to evaluate the quality of research submissions. The award underscores the critical importance of their work and fosters a culture of ethical peer review. It also serves as a reminder that the commitment and diligence of reviewers are indispensable in building trust and advancing open access scholarship.
The process for selecting the "Reviewer of the Year" will commence in November, with nominations being sought from every Editor-in-Chief of an IGI Global journal. Simultaneously, IGI Global Journal Development Editors will assess each reviewer's dashboard in the eEditorial Discovery (eED) submission system, where comprehensive records of their peer reviews are stored and available for evaluation by the respective journal's Editor(s)-in-Chief. Eligible candidates will include Editorial Review Board Members of IGI Global journals who have completed numerous thorough and timely evaluations.
In addition to this esteemed recognition, IGI Global extends various benefits to its reviewers, including participation in the Journal Reviewer APC Discount Program, integration with ORCID, access to free Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) resources, and more. Those interested in becoming a journal reviewer for one or more of IGI Global's open access journals spanning Business & Management, Scientific, Technical, and Medical (STM), and Education can submit an application form here.
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