“Open Access” Requires Clarification: Medical Journal Publication Models Evolve

"Open. Access. These are familiar words, and according to the dictionary, open means 'having no enclosing or confining barrier,' 1 and access implies 'permission, liberty, or ability to enter.' 2 In sum, the term seems pleasant and practically utopian.

However, the term open access has evolved from its positively idealistic roots, and although we used to think that in combination, the words 'open access' meant content that was online and free, this requires clarification. The idealistic goal of making published material openly available for all readers requires a plan for sustainability. In fact, we disclose and lament that in 2017, open access is a euphemism (a polite term referring to something unpleasant) for 'open your wallet.' This appears to be a universal trend in the electronic or online scientific publishing industry, and thus, we certainly do not blame our venerable publisher, Elsevier.

Nevertheless, beginning in April 2017, authors whose articles are accepted for publication in our open-access, online, companion journal Arthroscopy Techniques3,4 will be responsible for paying an article-processing charge (APC) of $900 per article. (As our journals are owned by the Arthroscopy Association of North America [AANA], AANA members will be responsible for paying a discounted APC of $600 as a member benefit.) The fee will be charged if (and only if) an article is accepted for publication after rigorous peer review.

To be clear, there is no charge for authors who publish in Arthroscopy, the green journal in which we publish this editorial. Rather, as above, the APC only pertains to our open access, online, companion journal, Arthroscopy Techniques."