arXiv and the Symbiosis of Physics Preprints and Journal Review Articles

TL;DR

This paper proposes a heuristic model to improve physics publishing by integrating preprints and journal review articles, aiming to address communication needs and reform challenges.

Contribution

It introduces an analytical framework for critiquing and guiding reforms in physics publishing, emphasizing the synergy of preprints and review articles.

Findings

Provides a critique of current publishing practices.

Diagnoses challenges in reform efforts.

Raises awareness for enriching scholarly communication.

Abstract

New thinking needs to emerge about how to reform publishing along lines that best meet two perennial needs of scientific communication. This paper discusses a model that addresses these two needs with respect to physics. Given the considerable barriers that its realization in pristine form faces, the model aspires merely to be a heuristic or guidepost. It provides an analytical framework for criticizing aspects of the current publishing ecosystem, helps diagnose problems in current efforts to reform it, including those emanating from the open access movement, and raises consciousness about certain emphases that could gradually enrich scholarly publishing. [VERSION 2 , 5/19/2019; SUCCESSIVE REVISIONS WILL OCCUR THROUGHOUT 2019.]