Open Access Publishing Today: Global Leaders and Emerging Models

Abstract

Open Access (OA) publishing has brought a significant shift in the landscape of scholarly communication by improving the accessibility and visibility of academic research. The growth of prominent OA publishers and the emergence of hybrid publishing models have contributed to a dynamic transformation of the publishing environment. This study aims to analyze current developments in Open Access publishing, focusing on the publishing strategies and journal output of major OA publishers. It specifically investigates the distribution of fully OA and hybrid journals and their indexing across major bibliographic platforms, including Scopus, Web of Science, the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ), and PubMed. A descriptive-analytical method was applied, with data gathered from the official websites of key publishing houses and bibliographic databases. The analysis involved counting the number of journals, identifying the types of publishing models in use, and examining the indexing status of these journals. The study focused on leading publishers such as Springer Nature, Wiley, Elsevier, and Frontiers to draw meaningful comparisons. The findings showed that Springer Nature held a leading position with more than 1,600 fully Open Access journals and over 3,100 hybrid titles. Wiley and Sage together offered 444 fully OA journals and around 2,448 hybrid ones. The Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) currently listed over 21,000 journals, while Scopus indexed 6,126 Open Access titles. These numbers reflected a growing momentum in favour of Open Access models, largely fuelled by requirements from funding agencies and institutional policies aimed at promoting wider dissemination of research. The study concludes that Open Access publishing is not merely a disruptive force but rather a progressive evolution of the academic publishing model. It represents a forward-looking strategy that aligns with the principles of transparency, inclusivity, and digital accessibility. As scholarly communication becomes more data-driven and globally interconnected, OA publishing is playing a crucial role in shaping a more open and sustainable future for research dissemination. Libraries, researchers, and institutions alike are adapting to this trend, which continues to redefine how knowledge is produced and shared.