Dear Ken,
Thank you for your recent very informative post on Predatory Publishing. I learned about Beall's list only yesterday via off-list mail from a colleague. If you hadn't mentioned the Beall list, I would have done so today. I'm glad you did.
I agree with you that we should warn our younger colleagues, students etc. But as for naming in public as you recommend, I still disagree. Let me explain why:
The suspicious journal in question is not actually on Beall's list - but these things seem to emerge at an alarming rate, so for practical reasons the list will never be perfectly up to date. Even so, I think the appropriate course of action is to advise everyone (as you suggest, too) to keep an eye on Beall's list. It is probably best and most systematic source we have on Predatory Publishing. What is even ore important in this context, however, is that Beall seems to apply a very strict explicit criteria for adding companies or journals to his list; and he also has an explicit procedure of appeal for companies who feel they are on the list without sufficient warrant. – In short, the way Beall maintains his list seems *fair*.
By contrast disclosing to the PHD List the name of the journal I refused to work for, would amount, as I see it, to making a serious accusation in public, based on *mere suspicion* and *personal disdain* for a business model (which is actually openly stated in this case). I think that would be unfair, even if the accusation happened to be justifiable. – The point is, I do not have the time and resources to make an appropriate justification. Therefore I should refrain from making the accusation.
However, not simply to leave it at that, I have contacted a well-reputed colleague whose name appears on the list of editors of the (probably bogus) journal in question, to ask if (s)he is aware of the fact. (No reply so far.)
All the best,
:^) Per
Per Galle
Lektor, FDRS
Associate Professor, FDRS
Designskolen
School of Design
Det Kongelige Danske Kunstakademis Skoler
for Arkitektur, Design og Konservering
The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts,
Schools of Architecture, Design and Conservation
Philip de Langes Allé 10
DK-1435 København K
T +45 4170 1500
M +45 4170 1876
E [log in to unmask]
www.kadk.dk
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