Preprints promote transparency and communication | Carmen Adriaens et al | the Node

"‘How can we have preprints and support good journalism?’ Tom Sheldon, a senior press manager at the Science Media Centre, recently asked this question in a news article in the journal Nature (Sheldon, 2018). Preprints, manuscripts made publicly available prior to peer review and publication, are a relatively new addition to scientific communication in the biological sciences. Together with the push for open access, preprints have begun to challenge the status-quo in scientific publishing. This early and open sharing of information enhances peer-to-peer communication and ultimately, speeds up scientific advancement. In his article, Mr. Sheldon argues that preprints could promote confusion and distort public understanding of science. Here, we would like to counter this argument, highlighting the potential of preprints to drive scientific understanding and innovation, while we believe that preprints does not threaten, and can even support good journalism...."