From Access to Equity: The Future of Fair and Accessible Scholarly Publishing

In celebration of International Open Access Week, eContent Pro International Press co-hosted a webinar with IGI Global Scientific Publishing and the Open Access Publishing Association (OAPA) titled “Who Owns Our Knowledge? The Future of Equitable Open Access.” Featured panelists included Mr. Todd Carpenter, Executive Director at the National Information Standards Organization (NISO), and Dr. Nicolaj Petersen, Researcher and Project Manager at UCL University College Denmark. The webinar is now available as a free on-demand virtual event here.

I had the opportunity to represent eContent Pro International Press and highlight our mission to advance open access book publishing through a platinum open access model. Every book we publish is freely available to readers, and authors and editors are never charged publishing fees. As the first U.S.-based commercial publisher operating exclusively under this model, we are deeply committed to discussions about ownership, equity, and community-centered knowledge sharing.

Two key themes stood out to me during the event: quality as a core value and reducing barriers for researchers from under-resourced regions, particularly non-English speakers.

Quality in Open Access

Todd emphasized that maintaining high quality is essential for the success of open access initiatives. He drew analogies to open-source software, noting that community-driven quality assurance, not cost or licensing alone, is what fosters strong scholarly communities.

Amplifying Under-Resourced Regions and Addressing Global Inequities

The panelists explored how open access can amplify research from under-resourced regions and proposed strategies to reduce global inequities, including:

• Challenge Western publication biases: Address the systemic preference for Western, English-language publications in promotion and tenure decisions, and value research published in local and indigenous journals.
• Improve translation and indexing tools: Enhance systems to make non-English and regionally produced research more discoverable and accessible.
• Include diverse researchers in editorial processes: Involve scholars from various backgrounds in editorial boards and peer review to reduce inequities.

During the Q&A, Todd and Nicolaj discussed the role of prestigious indices in perpetuating Western biases and the challenges of English-language dominance, proposing both technical and cultural solutions. Nicolaj also recommended publishing abstracts in multiple languages and recognizing diverse forms of impact beyond traditional citations.

Reflections

The issues of quality and access for under-resourced researchers are closely linked. Most top academic publishers currently publish exclusively in English, creating challenges for non-native speakers. Many rely on translators or AI tools to adapt manuscripts to English while preserving meaning and maintaining professional writing standards.

A 2020 study by three non-native English academic writers explored their experiences with manuscript acceptance and rejection in high-impact journals (Asif et al., 2020). Using qualitative content analysis, the study identified challenges such as:

• manuscripts being out of scope or lacking novelty;
• poor research methodology or design;
• weak English language skills;
• plagiarism, ethical issues, or conflicts of interest; and
• presentation issues or repetitive topics.

The study also noted that non-native English writers often face more rigorous scrutiny compared to native English speakers.

English dominates scholarly communication due to its global reach, and high-quality writing is essential for international success. Many non-native English writers even learn multiple English variants (British, American, Canadian, Australian) to create a neutral style appealing to diverse audiences. Even native English speakers encounter challenges with grammar, tenses, and sentence structure, emphasizing the importance of professional editing for all authors.

The Role of Professional Copy-Editing Services

Professional language-editing services can help both native and non-native English-speaking authors ensure their work meets rigorous academic standards. eContent Pro provides expert copy-editing services, correcting grammatical, punctuational, terminological, and formatting errors to increase the likelihood of publication success.

By enhancing manuscript quality, particularly for non-English speakers, we help remove barriers to publication and promote equitable access to scholarly knowledge. Correctly edited manuscripts improve clarity, professionalism, and chances of acceptance in high-impact journals, making quality editing a critical step in the academic publishing process.

Let eContent Pro Help Perfect Your Manuscript

At eContent Pro, our professional English-language copy editors ensure your manuscript is polished, clear, and publication-ready. Whether you’re preparing a journal article, book chapter, or research report, we help your writing achieve clarity, consistency, and impact. Click here to learn more or upload your manuscript for a quote today!

About eContent Pro

Headquartered in Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA, eContent Pro is a trusted global provider of high-quality professional copy editing and editorial services tailored for academic and professional authors. Since 2015, we have proudly supported thousands of writers, researchers, and editors in enhancing the clarity, accuracy, and impact of their written work. From manuscripts and journal articles to book chapters and beyond, our team of expert editors ensure each document is meticulously refined to meet the highest standards of publication. With a strong commitment to speed, precision, and personalized care, eContent Pro delivers flawless publication-ready content to authors across a variety of disciplines.

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