Peer Review — Recognition Wanted! | The Scholarly Kitchen

"In September 2014, a group of more than 40 Australian journal editors submitted a letter entitled Journal Reviewing and Editing: Institutional Support is Essential to the Australian Research Council, the National Health & Medical Research Council of Australia, Universities Australia, the Australian academies, and all Australian Deputy Vice Chancellors of Research. In it, they argued that the review and editing of scholarly papers is a critical element of academics’ work and should be recognized as such by their institutions and funding bodies ...  However, it’s hard to argue with the perception that peer review is facing, if not a crisis then at least challenging times. With research output – and articles – continuing to grow at 3-4% annually, more reviewers than ever are needed.  The Australian letter highlights the concerns of today’s journal editors, that, 'To help maintain the publication quality that Universities and the ARC expect and rely upon, research-active academic staff must be involved [in] peer-review or editorial activities.” While the VOYS letter reflects the concerns of the next generation of reviewers and editors, who believe that,“ Without recognition in the REF we risk reviewing of both papers and grant applications becoming a marginal activity and inevitably inconsistent and shoddy.' Specific issues include ... The tension between the pressure for researchers to publish in peer-reviewed journals and the lack of support for peer review from their institutions and funders ... The excessive value placed on publication output by institutions and funders, as opposed to other contributions researchers make to the scholarly endeavor ... The increasing difficulty of finding researchers who are willing to undertake peer review ... The particular challenge of finding reviewers for special issues which, the Australian letter suggests, are increasing in frequency ..."