Forwarded from Peter Suber At 12:46 PM 10/11/2007, Peter Suber wrote:
I second Stevan's advice and would add the following specifically about a referee boycott. Yes, some researchers have refused to serve as referees for journals that don't adopt good access policies. Ted Bergstrom, an economist at the University of California - Santa Barbara, has followed this practice for years and recommends it to others. But I doubt that it will ever catch on widely enough to exert real pressure on journals. Even if it doesn't catch on widely, however, it makes perfect sense for you, as an individual, to refuse to referee more papers for journals with weak access policies, and to explain your decision to the editor and publisher. This will let them know that the weakness of their access policy is a matter of growing concern, and it will free your time for other, higher priorities. You should decide this question: if you won't referee for Blackwell journals, will you also refuse to submit work to them? If so, say that to the editor and publisher as well. But if not, realize that you will be helping the journal with one hand while refusing to help it with the other. Meantime, to exert real pressure, work for OA mandates from your university (as Stevan outlined) and from the research funding agencies (worldwide) that pay for the research published in Blackwell journals. Best, Peter