The Rise and Fall of Hindawi: From Open Access Leader to Retraction Crisis
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The Ascendancy of Hindawi
Hindawi was once a prominent figure in academic publishing. Established in 1997, the organization fervently promoted open access, a movement that aimed to make scientific research universally accessible. This shift towards making knowledge available to all marked a significant departure from the conventional model that required readers to pay for access to scholarly articles.
However, Hindawi's narrative took a sharp turn in recent years. This article examines the journey of Hindawi, including its acquisition by a major publishing house, the subsequent quality concerns that emerged, and the eventual outcome for the Hindawi name.
Acquisition and its Aftermath
In January 2021, Hindawi was acquired by John Wiley & Sons, a well-known publisher, for a substantial amount.
Quality Concerns Emerge
By 2022, serious issues regarding the validity of many articles published by Hindawi surfaced, primarily due to compromised peer review processes. This led to a staggering number of retractions—over 7,000 by the end of 2023.
Financial Consequences and Brand Reassessment
The repercussions of these quality issues significantly impacted Wiley's financial standing and prompted the resignation of the CEO who had advocated for the acquisition. Additionally, Wiley opted to discontinue the Hindawi brand and instead incorporate its journals into their existing portfolio.
Closure of Journals
Beyond reputational harm, over 20 of Hindawi's journals were shut down entirely.
Continuation of Hindawi's Journals
Although Hindawi as an independent entity is no longer in existence, the journals it once published continue to operate but now fall under the Wiley banner, subject to enhanced quality control measures.
The Status of Hindawi Articles
The fate of articles published by Hindawi post-acquisition and amid quality controversies is multifaceted:
Retractions
A large number of Hindawi's articles (exceeding 7,000) faced retraction due to serious doubts surrounding the peer review process. These articles are no longer deemed valid scientific contributions and are typically flagged in academic databases.
Unretractable Articles
While many Hindawi articles remain unretracted, the stigma from the retraction crisis casts a shadow over their credibility. Researchers utilizing these articles should remain cautious and critically assess the research methodologies and findings presented.
New Beginnings Under Wiley
The remaining journals from Hindawi are now functioning under the Wiley name, which has instituted stricter controls to ensure the integrity of future publications.
Delisting from Academic Databases
Due to concerns regarding editorial practices, several Hindawi journals have been delisted from significant academic databases like Web of Science. Consequently, locating these articles may pose challenges for researchers.
Final Thoughts
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