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Visibility, Discoverability, Findability, Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Academic SEO in Digital Repositories: A scoping review

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Visibility plays a critical role in enhancing the impact of scientific research, yet it is often interpreted in diverse and overlapping ways. Related concepts – such as discoverability, findability, search engine optimization (SEO), and academic search engine optimization (ASEO) – are frequently used interchangeably, despite having distinct meanings. This study aims to clarify how these terms are conceptualized in the context of digital repositories and to identify the techniques proposed to optimize them. A theoretical framework was first developed to define and differentiate these concepts based on their usage in the broader web environment. This was followed by a scoping review, conducted in accordance with the SALSA framework, of 67 scholarly articles that address the use of these terms within the domain of repositories. The review analyses how the concepts are understood and applied, and catalogues the optimization strategies discussed. The results reveal a lack of clear conceptual distinctions among the terms, which are often used synonymously. The review does however identify 22 distinct optimization techniques aimed at improving the visibility of content stored in digital repositories.

Teaching Media and Communication in the GenAI Era: an exploratory study

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Goals. This study investigates the perceptions that faculty members in Media and Communication develop toward the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) in current teaching activities, focusing on its influence within the educational environment.
Methodology. We use an exploratory qualitative approach through the focus groups conducted in two universities (University of Bucharest and Université Lumière Lyon 2) which allow us to develop a comparative understanding of the topic. The field of Media and Communication is particularly relevant to study, as it already faces extensive GenAI integration in the respective professional fields.
Results. Both in France, and in Romania, professors in Media and Communication tend to be cautious about using GenAI and integrating it in their practices. Although they recognize AI as a potential tool for innovation (more on the Romanian side), its actual integration in pedagogical methods is still limited. On the French side, the rejection is stronger. Faculty members generally view GenAI use among students with criticism, associating it with plagiarism and a lack of critical thinking. Our research contributes to the reflection about the pedagogical challenges of teaching Media in Communication in the GenAI era, drawing from a Romania-France comparative study performed in two universities.

Research on Research Visibility

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This editorial explores the significance of research visibility within the evolving landscape of academic communication, mainly focusing on the role of search engines as online meta-markets shaping the impact of research. With the rapid expansion of scientific output and the increasing reliance on algorithm-driven platforms such as Google and Google Scholar, the online visibility of scholarly work has become an essential factor in determining its reach and influence. The need for more rigorous research into academic search engine optimization (A-SEO), a field still in its infancy despite its growing relevance, is also discussed, highlighting key challenges in the field, including the lack of robust research methodologies, the skepticism within the academic community regarding the commercialization of science, and the need for standardization in reporting and measurement techniques. This editorial thus invites a multidisciplinary dialogue on the future of research visibility, with significant implications for academic publishing, science communication, research evaluation, and the global scientific ecosystem.

The impact of ChatGPT on journalism: social listening, bibliographic production, and media agenda

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Considering the powerful emergence of ChatGPT in society at large and in journalism in particular, this study aims to quantify the impact of ChatGPT on journalism from the perspective of news generation on this topic, its repercussions on social networks, and its impact on the academic sphere.  This study quantitatively analyses the impact of ChatGPT on journalism from its launch on 30 November 2022 to 18 November 2023. It examines news coverage, Wikipedia visits, social media posts (Facebook, Instagram, and X), and academic output. Data was collected from Media Cloud, Wikipedia, and Proquest. Results were generated in Flourish Studio, and analysis included normalization of records to avoid duplicates and ensure relevance to scholarly output. The analysis of diverse documents underscores the versatility of the technology and the growing intersection between automation and journalistic writing. The study anticipates a future of increased human-machine collaboration in journalism. Key findings indicate widespread global coverage of the topic, reflecting a commensurate audience interest, as evidenced by internet search logs and social conversations.

Good practices on open access publications of projects funded by Horizon 2020

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Elena Pastor-Ramon Biblioteca Virtual de Ciències de la Salut de les Illes Balears (Bibliosalut) elena.pastor@bibliosalut.com 0000-0003-2609-6541 Juan Antonio Casado Responsable de tecnología y data en AlterBiblio juanantonio@alterbiblio.com Alejandra Campos Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona alejandra.campos@uab.cat 0000-0002-3067-2647

Content curation in a university library: Case study of scientific dissemination in Geology and Ocean Sciences with TELLUS and NEREUS newsletters

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The article aims to analyze the content curation process and the impact of TELLUS and NEREUS newsletters on subscribers. These newsletters, focusing on geology and ocean sciences, disseminate curated news to keep readers informed about scientific developments. The study seeks to establish metrics for accurately measuring subscriber interest and satisfaction. A key challenge is the lack of specificity and standardized metrics for such specialized newsletters. This study employs the case study methodology to achieve the objectives. The evolution of the newsletters is analyzed based on data extracted from email marketing platforms. Additionally, participant observation is used to examine key aspects such as platforms used, the curation system, information sources, topics covered, and the developed metrics system. Findings reveal stable open and click-to-open rates over time, indicating that subscribers maintain consistent levels of interest regardless of the specific content. Additionally, subscribers are classified into 16 categories based on interaction habits, providing valuable insights into reader behavior. These classifications and metrics are essential for understanding the audience and measuring the newsletters’ impact and success. The study highlights the importance of continuous adaptation to new technologies, the value of specialized information for a diverse audience, the relevance of email as a communication channel, and the development of own metrics focused on user satisfaction. These contributions can be applied to other libraries and scientific dissemination newsletters.

A bibliometric analysis of the past 25 years at International Journal of Geographical Information Science

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The article provides a comprehensive analysis of the evolution and impact of the International Journal of Geographic Information Science (IJGIS) over the past 25 years. IJGIS, the first journal exclusively dedicated to Geographic Information Science (GIS), has significantly expanded its publication output to meet the growing demand for GIS research. Utilizing conceptual science mapping analysis, the study traces the thematic evolution of the journal by collecting scientific papers from the Web of Science database from 1997 to 2021. Bibliometric performance indicators were employed to highlight its influence and thematic development. The primary themes covered include error modeling, digital elevation models, simulation, conservation, and land-use change. Moreover, IJGIS has broadened its scope to include emerging topics such as volunteered geographic information, the integration of big data techniques, and artificial intelligence. Geographically, contributions are predominantly from the USA, followed by China and the UK, underscoring the journal’s international recognition and impact. Compare global averages, IJGIS consistently maintains a high normalized impact within its thematic area. In conclusion, IJGIS has undergone significant evolution, adapting to GIS field changes, and expanding its global influence with prospects for further diversification and technological integration. 

Identification of Positioning Factors in Academic SEO (ASEO) through a Scoping Review

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Academic SEO (ASEO) refers to a set of practices aimed at improving the visibility and impact of an author’s or institution’s academic output. Authors, publishers, and librarians all play important roles within the framework of their expertise in optimizing academic content. The main objective of this work is to identify the ranking factors that impact the algorithms of search engines and academic literature databases, as well as to uncover other factors or strategies that, while not having a direct impact, can be useful for increasing the visibility of an author’s academic production. A scoping review was conducted following the SALSA framework, which identified a total of 23 publications. From these, the factors under study were identified and synthesized. 40 factors were identified, described, and grouped by type (direct / indirect), time (pre-publication / post-publication), and according to the actor(s) involved (author, publisher or librarian). Finally, a series of recommendations are also provided for each of the actors involved.

The Scientific Event as a Formative Activity in Postgraduate Studies: Perspectives from the Scientific Committee of the FORPED PPGGOC

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Aims: To share the experiences of a scientific committee of an academic-scientific event proposed as a teaching activity for postgraduate studies. Methodology: It is a descriptive, exploratory, and applied study; the methodology consisted of a bibliographic research that sought inputs on scientific communication and good project management practices for their application in the management of the scientific committee. The management, organization, and monitoring of activities and tasks were carried out through a shared electronic spreadsheet with the team, stored in the cloud. Results: As a result, the main milestones, activities, and artifacts produced by the scientific committee of the event were presented, as well as the details and chronological order of the activities, in guide format, to contribute to the academic training of postgraduate students and those interested in organizing academic-scientific events. It is suggested to replicate the activities and artifacts in other events to improve the documentation presented in this study.

Public Libraries as Shapers of a Youth Canon

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We start with the hypothesis that the library is a fundamental institution in the creation of the youth literary canon. To uphold it, we analyze the process of constructing this canon by examining the titles that are selected from the library, how they are selected and who selects them. The methodology involved the preparation of two surveys and the analysis of 209 responses from public libraries in Spain and 162 from their reading clubs, 19 of youth literature. The data identifies, classifies, analyzes, and compares the titles of the works selected in public libraries: on the one hand, the books that the user chooses to borrow and, on the other hand, those that are read in reading clubs. In the case of the reading clubs, there is a mediation process that we describe and analyze based on the responses to the surveys. The results demonstrate the importance of mediation carried out by librarians and club coordinators to ensure that users engage in diverse and quality reading.