Damn the publishers

This publishing lag hardly helps when numerical outputs are the key sorting mechanism used by grant assessors and potential employers alike. The ERA emphasis on quality and quantity bears no realistic relationship to the opportunities that are available to the majority.

At least university libraries are starting to recognise that online publishing allows articles to be widely read and cited. But "e-repositories" do little to overturn the commercial imperatives that determine book contracts and journal subscriptions.

When marketing decisions have direct power over career advancement, scholars are rewarded for producing palatable research that appeals to a preconceived audience. Those who choose not to pursue original research about their own country are actually rewarded.

Meanwhile, the time that junior scholars could spend writing original articles to improve their prospects is increasingly invaded by administrative requests.

Hours are spent wading through spreadsheets to correct journal rankings amassed by bureaucrats, and compiling lists to prove the "impact factor" of one's writing.

The situation is nothing short of alienating. The highlight of the job - getting published - has become an exercise in minimising losses from poor odds.

If emerging scholars were actually consulted about the changes affecting their prospects, they'd testify that open access journals with effective peer review systems already demonstrate alternatives to this model. Aside from the worldwide exposure it offers research, the great benefit of online publishing is its speed. It allows young academics to contribute to their field in a timeframe that can match today's steep requirements for employability.

Let's hope that by the time we see the findings from this ERA, its onerous auditing processes will have caught up with reality. No one would dispute that textbooks are vital to any education system. But Australian scholars also need to believe they have a further role: to address the broader issues affecting their own, and fellow citizens', experience.