How to free refereed literature online

Wired has a nifty Story on E-Journals. With the big puch to E-Publish Journals some insist that simply publishing electronically is not enough –and that open, free access to the full content is needed. Critics insist that peer review is critical to ensure quality control and patient safety. Without peer review, researchers may exaggerate their findings. Some people say that faster publication time compromises quality, others insist that the benefits of electronic publication remain unparalleled by print. So far, few online-only journals have managed to survive.

\”These new online journals will give scientists an alternative,\” Cockerill said. \”They will finally be able to publish their research in high-quality journals, with full peer review, but without surrendering control to a publisher that will limit the subsequent distribution of that research.\” \”There\’s already a threat to paper journals,\” Kassirer agreed. \”Unless journals get on the Internet, their life is threatened.\”