Roles, Challenges, and Sustainability of Australian Journals: A Survey of Editors

Abstract

Abstract This article reports the findings of a survey of 139 editors of Australian journals. The survey investigated the editors’ views on distinct roles of Australian journals, the potential conflicts between national roles and internationalization, and the factors affecting long-term viability of journals. Findings show that editors highly value the role of Australian journals in linking research and practice in the Australian context and sustaining local disciplinary communities. While the majority of editors (76%) see little to no conflict between internationalization and maintaining local roles, some see challenges in balancing local relevance with international appeal. The survey highlights a link between journal rankings, author incentives, and the ability to attract quality submissions, particularly for journals focusing on local issues. Attracting quality submissions and qualified reviewers emerged as the most important factors for long-term viability, with the latter also being the most significant challenge. The study highlights a strong reliance on voluntary work as 45% of editors receive no compensation for their roles, a concern for the sustainability of journals. Open access strategies vary, but 88% of journals were satisfied with their current publishing model. There was low satisfaction with support from parent organizations in areas such as training and professional development.

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