Preprints, Journals and Openness: Disentangling Goals and Incentives

Robert Harington, Chief Publishing Officer at the American Mathematical Society, discusses the value of preprints, emphasizing their role alongside traditional journals in academia. He explores the need for a balanced approach that includes both preprints and peer-reviewed journals, stressing that dismantling journals isn’t a solution to integrity issues. Harington advocates for improved peer review practices and changing how academic success is measured, suggesting funders support quality peer review. He also highlights the unique challenges in mathematics publishing and calls for a cultural shift to prioritize research integrity in career assessments.