Invisible scholars: A case for formal acknowledgement of peer reviewers and journal editors

[Ina Smith]

https://avehjournal.org/index.php/aveh/article/view/1127/2946

This 2025 editorial argues that peer reviewers and journal editors are “invisible scholars” whose labour underpins research integrity but is largely unrecognised by institutions. Citing ASSAf’s 2024 statement and the Hong Kong Principles, it urges universities and research councils to formally credit peer review and editorial work in workload models and promotion/tenure criteria. In the South African context - where teaching loads and resource constraints are high - the piece highlights feedback from the August 2025 NSEF meeting and warns that failing to acknowledge this work threatens the sustainability of scholarly publishing.

Ina Smith (her/she)

SciELO SA Planning Manager | Scholarly Publishing Programme
Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf)

Senior Ambassador for Africa
Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ)

DOAJ & Diamond: 22 years

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