From rejection to redirection: reimagining the culture of academic publishing

Abstract Academic publishing is at a critical inflection point. Dominated by the entrenched “publish or perish” ethos, the current system equates manuscript rejection with scholarly failure, marginalizing early-career researchers and perpetuating a culture of exclusivity, opacity, and intellectual discouragement. This commentary challenges the status quo by advancing the concept of redirection—a paradigm shift that reframes rejection not as an endpoint, but as a strategic, educational, and empowering editorial practice. We explore the historical roots of rejection culture, critique the limitations of traditional peer review, and present redirection as a mechanism to restore the developmental purpose of scholarly communication. Redirection enhances manuscript trajectories through actionable feedback, journal transfer pathways, and psychological validation, thereby supporting a more inclusive, equitable, and resilient research ecosystem. We also explore the role of institutional reforms and emerging technologies, including responsible artificial intelligence, in operationalizing redirection without compromising rigor or transparency. Ultimately, we call upon editors, reviewers, and academic leaders to replace intellectual gatekeeping with mentorship-driven publishing cultures—where feedback is not a verdict, but a vehicle for scholarly advancement.