Summary
Background: Based on today‘s information and communication technologies the open access paradigm
has become an important approach for adequately communicating new scientific knowledge.
Objectives: Summarizing the present situa -tion for journal transformation. Presenting criteria
for adequate transformation as well as a specific approach for it. Describing our
exemplary implementation of such a journal transformation.
Methods: Studying the respective literature as well as discussing this topic in various discussion
groups and meetings (primarily of editors and publishers, but also of authors and
readers), with long term experience as editors and /or publishers of scientific publications
as prerequisite.
Results: There is a clear will, particularly of political and funding organizations, towards
open access publishing. In spite of this, there is still a large amount of scientific
knowl edge, being communicated through subscription-based journals. For successfully
transforming such journals into open access, sixteen criteria for a goal-oriented,
stepwise, sustainable, and fair transformation are suggested. The Tandem Model as
transformation approach is introduced. Our exemplary implementation is done in the
Trans-O-MIM project. It is exploring strategies, models and evaluation metrics for
journal transforma tion. As instance the journal Methods of Information in Medicine will apply the Tandem Model from 2017 onwards.
Conclusions: Within Trans-O-MIM we will reach at least nine of the sixteen criteria for adequate
transformation. It was positive to implement Trans-O-MIM as international research
project. After first steps for transforming Methods have successfully been made, challenges will remain, among others, in identifying
appropriate incentives for open access publishing in order to support its transformation.
Keywords
Scientific journals - open access - subscription - journal transformation - journal
conversion - journal flipping - journal transition
