Nearly a third of journals reported fraudulent submissions – report

KGL Consulting, the scholarly publishing consultancy arm of KnowledgeWorks Global (KGL), has unveiled the results of its 2024 Editorial Compensation Benchmark Study, an analysis offering insights into editorial compensation, gender representation, and operational structures within academic publishing.

Drawing data from 213 journals across various disciplines, the study is aimed at providing a resource for publishers navigating an “increasingly complex landscape”. Findings include:

• Compensation influencers: Editor compensation correlates strongly with factors such as professional income, selectivity, and workload, with Impact Factor playing a less prominent role.
• Gender representation gaps: Women remain underrepresented in top editor roles, comprising only 30% of editors-in-chief. The study found no strong evidence of pay inequity by gender in top editorial positions.
• Research integrity: Nearly a third of journals reported instances of fraudulent submissions, with more than half now having staff roles dedicated to safeguarding research ethics.

KGL says the study offers actionable benchmarks around editor based on journal size, subject matter, editorial responsibilities, and more – enabling publishers to foster equitable practices, attract top-tier talent, and strengthen their editorial teams.

“By delivering this robust analysis, we aim to empower publishers to make evidence-based decisions that support equity, accountability, and excellence in scholarly publishing,” said Annette Hager, Senior Consultant at KGL Consulting.

A non-participant’s report of the study findings is available for purchase. Please visit www.kwglobal.com/compensation-study for more information.

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