Fake science news: Rise of ‘predatory journals’ makes it easier to publish, spread ‘advocacy research’

Screen Shot at PM

[Editor’s note: Robert Fraley is Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer at Monsanto. He has Ph.D. degrees in microbiology and biochemistry from the University of Illinois.]

Fake news is not new to science. For years, scientists have watched trusted media outlets – along with junk websites posing as trusted media or experts – distribute misleading or false information disguised as science that creates unwarranted public fear of beneficial scientific advances such as vaccines and GMOs.

Unfortunately, we now live in a world where the integrity of peer-reviewed journals is being threatened by the rise of the academic version of fake news – something many call “predatory publishing,” but I like to call “deceptive publishing.”

All of this has led to the emergence of a new and dark market of deceptive publishers that exploit the concept of open access and provide channels for “scientific journal” publication with little or no peer review. For a fee, they will publish almost anything – even if the study was fatally flawed. And these journals provide a forum that can be used as a channel to publish fraudulent “advocacy research.”

Since 2012, the number of deceptive journals has tripled. As of 2016, ~25% of all scholarly journals were deemed “predatory” and are responsible for publishing more than 500,000 articles every year.

The GLP aggregated and excerpted this blog/article to reflect the diversity of news, opinion, and analysis. Read full, original post: Deceptive Publishing is the “Fake News” of the Science World

For more background on the Genetic Literacy Project, read GLP on Wikipedia

{{ reviewsTotal }}{{ options.labels.singularReviewCountLabel }}
{{ reviewsTotal }}{{ options.labels.pluralReviewCountLabel }}
{{ options.labels.newReviewButton }}
{{ userData.canReview.message }}
screenshot at  pm

Are pesticide residues on food something to worry about?

In 1962, Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring drew attention to pesticides and their possible dangers to humans, birds, mammals and the ...
glp menu logo outlined

Newsletter Subscription

* indicates required
Email Lists
glp menu logo outlined

Get news on human & agricultural genetics and biotechnology delivered to your inbox.