How publishers and editors can help early career researchers: Recommendations from a roundtable discussion

Key points Hearing the views of early career researchers (ECRs) provides valuable insights and is a worthwhile investment for publishers. Understanding the time and relationship issues that ECRs face can help publishers develop better systems and services. Talking to ECRs demonstrates a frustration that the editing, peer reviewing, and publishing ecosystem is built by people with whom they do not identify and by whom they are not represented. There is a greater role for journal editors to offer support, advice, and encouragement to ECRs. ECRs want journals to take more of a lead in promoting open science and supporting novel research outputs. There is a need for publishers to develop tools and systems that simplify journal requirements and help ECRs to publish.