eLife Is Put on a Ventilator
eLife indexing is paused at Clarivate — for good reasons
Ever since eLife moved to its misguided “Reviewed Preprints” model, questions have circulated about whether it was even a journal anymore. The recent controversy showing how eLife-reviewed preprints related to an archaeological dig in South Africa could be commercially exploited despite being scientifically inadequate led one editorialist to write that when “original, unreviewed versions are taking the place of reviewed manuscripts . . . the authors, not the editors, are deciding what quality of research is considered acceptable.”
Apparently, Clarivate has seen enough, and yesterday paused indexing of eLife as they reevaluate the model against their editorial evaluation criteria.
In its spin piece in response, eLife sounds defiant, writing:
Web of Science, the platform operated by Clarivate, has paused indexing eLife Versions of Record in Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE), the commercial index that produces the Journal Impact Factor. This decision came into effect on October 23, 2024.
Calling Clarivate a disembodied “platform” that is “commercial” represents ways to throw shade, yet eLife is clearly in hot water, and surely have heard from their funders. Whether their executive leadership is willing and able to adapt is unclear — an earlier work of theirs suggests they are not able to look facts in the eye and may be die-hard disruptors, which to me means they may be unable to abide by anyone coming at them with normal standards like editorial accountability.
I think this is a good thing. eLife’s transgressive model has taken it out of the realm of journals. Now, they pay the price.
Fool around, and find out seems to be the phrase here.