Two prominent U.S. Senators want Juul to be punished for paying a scientific journal to “rig the science,” as Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) put it.
According to Warren and several news reports, the e-cigarette company paid American Journal of Health Behavior (AJHB) over $51,000 to publish a special issue containing 11 studies conducted by scientists and researchers funded by Juul. This, Warren asserts, is the same type of dirty trick Big Tobacco used to put the science that their products were harmful in doubt. In this instance, however, it’s anti-tobacco advocates playing the role of merchants of doubt and using political pressure to discredit legitimate science.
Though few outside of academia may be aware, many peer-reviewed journals charge authors fees to publish their research. While peer reviewers often work for free, there are costs associated with processing submissions, proof-reading, editing, creating special tables or figures, and printing; services for which journals often charge authors. For example, the journal Nature charges authors over $11,000 per paper if authors want it to be open-access to anyone in the public to read. Some, including AJHB, also offer an “expedited” review service, allowing authors to speed up a process that might otherwise take several months.
Michelle Minton – Real Clear Policy – 2021-08-17.
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