In a dramatic move, all but one member of the editorial board of the Journal of Human Evolution (JHE), an Elsevier publication, have resigned in protest against what they describe as the publisher’s erosion of editorial integrity and support. The resignation, announced via a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), highlights deep-seated frustrations with Elsevier’s policies and practices.
The resigning editors, including the joint Editors-in-Chief, Emeritus Editors, and nearly all Associate Editors, stated:
“Elsevier has steadily eroded the infrastructure essential to the success of the journal while simultaneously undermining the core principles and practices that have successfully guided the journal for the past 38 years.”
Key Concerns Raised:
- Reduction in Editorial Support
Elsevier reportedly eliminated positions for copy editors and special issue editors, leaving editors to interpret this as disregard for language, grammar, formatting, and accuracy in published articles. - Introduction of AI in Production
Editors noted that Elsevier began using AI in article production without prior consultation, which introduced errors such as improper capitalization and formatting of scientific nomenclature. Correcting these errors took months of editorial effort and caused reputational damage to the journal. - Editorial Board Control
Elsevier unilaterally required editors to sign annual contracts and reduced the number of associate editors. The publisher also opposed the journal’s dual-editor-in-chief model, a cornerstone since 1986, offering to continue it only by halving compensation rates. - High Article Processing Charges (APCs)
The APCs at JHE were reported at $3,990—twice the cost of similar Elsevier journals—posing barriers to authors, particularly in resource-constrained regions.
A Growing Trend in Scholarly Publishing:
According to Retraction Watch records, this resignation marks the 20th editorial board exit since early 2023. It reflects a broader dissatisfaction among academic editors with publisher policies, including increasing APCs, lack of editorial autonomy, and the use of AI technologies without adequate oversight.
Attempts to seek comments from Elsevier and the sole associate editor who did not resign were unsuccessful due to holiday schedules.
This incident reignites discussions about the future of scholarly publishing and the responsibilities of publishers in upholding editorial integrity. As Nature recently posed, “What do these group exits achieve?“ For the global research community, the answer may shape the evolution of academic publishing.