the Publication Facts Label
- Let’s start with why PKP is introducing a Publication Facts Label (PFL) that will accompany each research article, drawing its data directly from the OJS platform:
- While PKP provides a trustworthy research publishing platform, its responsibilities also include, in an era of open science, helping to communicate the basis of that trust.
- New and less well-known journals, many using OJS, experience more distrust, which could lead to missed opportunities for advancing and utilising valuable research.
- PKP is able to use its platform technical expertise to verifiably establish for readers and authors adherence to scholarly publishing standards for a substantial number of journals.
- PKP, as a university initiative developing open source software platforms, has been able to attract the support of an anonymous donor to support this initiative.
Research Trust
2. Let’s consider the scale of the questions being raised about research trust that editors and publishers may be interested in learning more about in considering the PFL:
Google Scholar has 19,500 articles raising concerns about “predatory journals,” with half of those published in the last five years.
Google Scholar has 102,500 articles raising concerns about “research integrity,” with 20,900 published in the last five years.
Retraction Watch has over 10,000 subscribers to its daily list of travesties and Cabells’ Predatory Reports is up to 17,000 predatory journals.
Public trust in scientists has fallen since the pandemic, while trust in higher education is at a historic low, based on U.S. polls.
Industry Responses
3. Let’s review the industry’s principal responses to the trust question, which suggests a further reason for why the PFL has a role to play in addressing integrity questions:
Think. Check. Submit. makes authors responsible: “Are you submitting your research to a trusted journal or publisher?” and “Do you or your colleagues know the publisher?”
STM INTEGRITY HUB
The STM Integrity Hub is, along with various AI start-ups, exploring detection of data manipulation, paper mills, and other distortions prior to publication.
PUBLICATION FACTS LABEL
The PFL provides readers and authors with a way to assess unfamiliar research sources in support of a broader consultation and greater integration of research.
Support
4. Let’s look at the support that the PFL has attracted to date, which again may be worth communicating directly to editors and publishers of journals using OJS:
In Nature’s Poll of the Week, 75% of some 3K readers endorsed an early prototype of the label (April 2024).
At OASPA, 72 of 73 attendees endorsed the current PFL at a presentation on the topic (Sept 2024).
The UOttawa Delphi Study team on research integrity finds the PFL well aligned with the consensus among publishers, clinicians, and patients on this theme.
Following its production release in 2025, the PKP is planning to work with major OJS users including Coalition Publica, SciELO, Redalyc, Library Publishing Coalition and Relawan Journal Indonesia to expand its adoption.
