Editorial Indulgence
Definition: *Editorial indulgence* refers to the tendency of journal editors to prioritize personal, institutional, or sentimental content over scientific rigor, often by publishing articles that would not meet standard peer-review criteria if submitted by unaffiliated authors.
Characteristics
- Acceptance of weak or anecdotal submissions from editorial board members or senior figures.
- Over-publication of commemorative articles, historical retrospectives, or vanity series.
- Minimal critical oversight applied to certain contributors (“editorial immunity”).
- Use of journal space for internal legacy building rather than academic advancement.
Red Flags
| Symptom | Consequence |
|---|---|
| Repeated publications by the same institution | Perceived bias and erosion of editorial credibility |
| Long, uncritical tributes or autobiographies | Displacement of peer-reviewed scientific research |
| Lack of methodological or bibliographic rigor | Weakens the journal's academic reputation |
Consequences
- Undermines the integrity and fairness of the peer-review process.
- Prioritizes prestige, ego, or nostalgia over objective scientific merit.
- Contributes to journal padding and reader disengagement.
- May lead to reputational damage for the journal in academic circles.
Related Terms
- Journal padding
- Institutional bias
- Vanity publishing
- Editorial favoritism
Application Example
- The multi-part series on the “genesis of Academic Neurosurgery” in
Neurocirugía (Engl Ed)can be seen as a case of editorial indulgence, reflecting internal reverence rather than critical historical scholarship.