Xref: utzoo comp.groupware:379 news.groups:26475 comp.mail.misc:4483 sci.research:1486 news.admin:11527
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From: jgsmith@watson.bcm.tmc.edu (James G. Smith)
Newsgroups: comp.groupware,news.groups,comp.mail.misc,sci.research,news.admin
Subject: Re: Consensus Journals:Invitational journals based upon peer
Summary: usenet scenario (...or  Waiting for Xanadu)
Keywords: peer review feedback noise scientific communication
Message-ID: <3185@gazette.bcm.tmc.edu>
Date: 12 Dec 90 22:07:19 GMT
References: <1990Dec9.164405.24420@daimi.aau.dk>
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What about the following scenario for electronic publications
(sorry for the biological slant)

sci.research.biology.papers  (an unmoderated newsgroup)

sci.research.journal.immunologytoday
sci.research.journal.biologicalchemistry
sci.research.journal.molecularandcellbiology
sci.research.journal.science
sci.research.journal.cell
etc.
(moderated journals, perhaps requiring subscription fees)

The scenario:

I write up my paper, send it to sci.research.biology.papers.

At the same time I send email to the editors of "Cell" saying please include
... er...  please review the paper which I submitted to sci...papers.

The editors of cell would screen the paper for interest, and ask several 
qualified reviewers to review the paper.  They would convey their comments to
Cell, who conveys their decision to me.  If they reject it for reasons of
interest, I might bring my paper to the attention of another journal.  If
they require a revision, i make the necessary changes (do the additional
experiments), submit the new version to sci...papers, and then email the new
journal.  

Once the paper is "accepted", the new journal either resends the paper in its
own newsgroup, or simply makes a reference to the paper and states that it has
passed its review requirements.

Most people would then not pay much/any attention to the noisy 
sci.research.biology.papers newsgroup, but would instead wait to see what has
been reviewed by the various journals.  However, they could still screen the
papers newsgroup (hopefully an automated screen) for papers dealing specifically with their specific interests.

Well, watchya think?

*