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2 years ago in Publishing and Access By Rinku
What are "overlay journals" and how do they challenge traditional publishing?
I've heard of journals that don't host papers themselves but instead curate and peer-review preprints from arXiv. What are these "overlay journals," and are they considered legitimate for tenure and funding reviews?
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By Heena Answered 1 month ago
Overlay journals are a lean, open access model that separates dissemination (handled by preprint servers like arXiv) from certification (handled by the journal's peer review). After review, the journal "publishes" by adding a link and metadata pointing to the vetted preprint. They are highly legitimate in fields like mathematics and physics where arXiv is standard, offering speed, zero APCs, and community governance. Examples include Discrete Analysis and Quantum. For tenure, their standing depends on field norms and the journal's editorial reputation. In progressive departments, they're seen as innovative; in conservative ones, they may be misunderstood. Their impact is growing as they demonstrate that high-quality peer review doesn't require expensive publishing platforms.
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