Hybrid open access is similar to gold OA, but different! Under the hybrid OA model, publishers, upon payment of an Article Processing Charge (APC), will grant immediate open access to individual articles that appear in otherwise traditional subscription-based journals. Most of the big journal publishers have now adopted a version of this model, e.g., Oxford Univ. Press, Springer, Taylor & Francis, Wiley, etc. For recent examples of forced migration-related articles published under the hybrid OA model, browse through the monthly Open Access Round-up posts on my other blog.
The hybrid OA arrangement offers authors the twofold benefit of continuing to publish in their journal of choice and having open access provided to their research articles immediately, rather than waiting for an embargo period to pass. Typically, however, the APCs for hybrid OA journals are significantly higher than those levied by pure OA journals. As a result, some funders/employers do not cover hybrid OA publication fees.
Despite the higher APCs, a recent study noted an uptick in hybrid OA since 2014. The author concluded that this was a response in part to the introduction of new payment arrangements for APCs set up by various research funders in Europe.
Resources:
- View hybrid OA articles published in Oxford Univ. Press' three forced migration-specific journals on the following pages: 1) International Journal of Refugee Law; 2) Journal of Refugee Studies: JRS (2004-2013); JRS (2014-2021); JRS (2022+); and 3) Refugee Survey Quarterly.
- Visit this table for further details about the hybrid options offered by a range of forced migration-related journals.