FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Safeguarding Scientific Integrity: Leading Animal ScienceEditors Reaffirm the Vital Role of Society-Owned Journals
CHAMPAIGN, Ill., – The Editors-in-Chief of Poultry Science, The Journal of Applied Poultry Research, and European Poultry Science joined a global coalition of animal science journal editors to reaffirm the core values and responsibilities of society-owned research journals in response to the rapidly changing publishing landscape. Their joint editorial, "Values Shared by Journals of Learned Societies, Associations, and Scientific Institutions in Animal Science," underscores the essential role society-owned journals play in maintaining scientific integrity, rigorous peer review, and accessibility of research.
Published collectively across several high-impact animal science journals, the editorial addresses the challenges and transformations shaping scientific publishing today. The shift toward Open Access publishing, the growing demands on peer reviewers, and the rapid dissemination of preprints are among the critical issues examined in the editorial. The authors emphasize that society- and institution-owned journals remain dedicated to publishing high-quality, peer-reviewed science while serving the broader research community.
“Scientific publishing is facing unprecedented changes, and it is crucial that society-owned journals uphold the highest standards of integrity, peer review, and service to scientists,” said Dr. Mike Kogut, Editor-in-Chief of Poultry Science. “Our journals are led by scientists, for scientists, and our mission is to ensure the long-term sustainability and credibility of research in the poultry sciences.”
Key Themes from the Editorial:
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Scientific Integrity & Peer Review: Society journals maintain rigorous peer review processes, prioritizing the quality and reproducibility of published research over rapid publication.
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For Scientists, By Scientists: Unlike commercial publishers, society-owned journals reinvest in scientific advancement, supporting researchers through conferences, workshops, and mentorship programs.
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Transparency in Publishing: The editorial promotes fair and ethical publishing practices, ensuring that funding sources, conflicts of interest, and research methodologies are disclosed openly.
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Future of Open Science: The authors highlight the importance of balancing Open Access models with financial sustainability to keep research widely accessible without compromising review quality or editorial independence.
The Poultry Science Association commends Dr. Mike Kogut, Editor-in-Chief of Poultry Science, Dr. Brian Fairchild, Editor-in-Chief of The Journal of Applied Poultry Research, and Dr. Barbara Tzschentke, Editor-in-Chief of European Poultry Science, for their leadership as contributors to this significant collaborative effort. Their strong example reinforces PSA’s commitment to upholding the highest standards in scientific publishing while ensuring that poultry science research remains credible, accessible, and impactful.
“As scientific journals adapt to new publishing models, it is more important than ever to maintain rigorous peer review and ethical publishing standards,” said Dr. Brian Fairchild. “This editorial reaffirms the core values that set society-owned journals apart and highlights their vital role in advancing animal science research.”
The full editorial is available here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0032579124013129
About PSA
The Poultry Science Association is committed to the research, the dissemination and application of knowledge that supports the poultry industry. PSA is a professional organization that consists of poultry science professionals and students from across the globe.