Editorial gatekeepers confronted by the electronic journal

Abstract

Refereed journals perform a crucial role in the formal dissemination of new knowledge. Significant to the communication process are editors and editorial board gatekeepers. These gatekeepers were surveyed to learn their views on supplanting paper-formatted journals with journals in electronic formats. The survey showed that editorial gatekeepers, although generally supportive of the creation of electronic journals, are still very enamored of the paper format as both a means of publishing and a medium for archiving academic writing. It is suggested that editorial gatekeepers may view electronic journals as an extension of the informal communication system of the disciplines rather than as a medium for supplanting the traditional paper format of academic journals.