Joseph J. Esposito is an independent management consultant providing strategic advice, operating analysis, and interim management in the area of digital media to both publishing and software companies. Mr. Esposito’s clients are equally divided between the for-profit and not-for-profit sectors. Over the course of his career, Mr. Esposito has worked for a number of companies, including positions as CEO of Encyclopaedia Britannica, Tribal Voice, and SRI Consulting, all of which he led to successful exits. He writes extensively on digital media, and has been awarded research grants from the Hewlett, MacArthur, and Mellon Foundations. Mr. Esposito is not related to the famous “Joe Esposito,” Elvis Presley’s former road manager.
The book is asked to perform many tasks, some of which are not necessarily the best use of the book format, whether in print or electronically. The long-form text, which may be print or digital, is a different matter, and is likely to remain with us and be called “a book” for some time to come.
As Sci-Hub has grown up at the expense of publishers, it’s worth considering what its next steps might be in order to understand what new challenges it will pose.
Database marketing opens up large business opportunities, but only if the data is used with restraint.
Professional societies often seek partnerships for different reasons. This post summarized the categories of partnerships and helps to identify when a partnership is not really a partnership.
Many of the finest scholarly publications can boast of exemplary editorial programs, but the advent of Gold Open Access, especially when mandated by funding agencies, may make this kind of editorial activity a thing of the past.
Revisiting Joe Esposito’s 2011 post to think about why commercial publishers continue to dominate the landscape.
Of the many proposals to lower the cost of college textbooks, the model called “inclusive access” may have the best chance, as it creates incentives for publishers and students alike.
This is a presentation on consolidation in scholarly communications. It provides a primer on how companies look at acquisitions, how they are financed, and why they are likely to continue. The presentation also touches on start-ups and venture capital.
Some notes on academic publishing, university presses in particular.
This is a report on the monograph output of American university presses. The report had the cooperation of 65 presses, which contributed their historical data to the project. The report shows the output of the presses and provides a more granular analysis by subject area and press size.