by BI Yantao, China
In China, to publish an academic essay is extremely difficult for simply one reason: Too many people are compelled to publish essays to get promoted, to obtain a master or PhD, but the number of journals is miserably limited. Reluctantly, contributors have to pay certain sum of money to get their essays published. But demand still overwhelmingly exceeds supply. Therefore, a new type of brokers came into existence: they help polish, rewrite and publish essays for blind profits. Should journals charge so much money? Is it really an international practice for journals to charge the contributors? Academics debate heatedly. But a high-rank official openly supports charging the contributors.
(Originally published at Global Voices Online)
