The Economic Mess — A Factor We Cannot Ignore
The economic stagnation sweeping the globe is hitting academia. For publishers and others, the implications can be severe and long-term.
The Ticklish Problem of Pricing E-books for Libraries
As publications move to digital form, libraries are taking on a greater share of the total volume of publishers’ income. This inevitably leads to conflicts.
Watching the Information World's Metaphors — Are You About Streams Yet?
How we think often leads to what we think. Are you publishing using the metaphors users are adopting?
Letter from Eastern Europe: Some Reflections on the Evolution of Publishing
The growing economies in Eastern Europe are giving rise to a new set of publishing opportunities and also to increased competition on the global stage.
Pondering the 5 W’s of Publication Funding – Who, What, When, Where, and Why
While all sustainable publishing requires funding, where the funding comes from, why it’s provided, who provides it, when it’s provided, and what they expect for it sheds some light on some key issues.
PLoS ONE's 2010 Impact Factor
Does the success of the scalable, multidisciplinary open access mega journal signal the imminent demise of the specialized, highly-selective subscription journal?
Top-Tier Open Access Journal Arrives with Fanfare, Few Details
A new open access journal announced with much fanfare, but with few details, no name and no business plan.
What We Can Learn From Harry Potter
The Harry Potter series will now be available as e-books. Among the lessons for publishers is the desirability of direct-marketing.
Revisiting PressForward – A Good Idea Facing an Uphill Battle
PressForward has a lot of potential, but a lot of potential barriers to overcome. How it fares will depend on how much the larger culture of academia is interested in change.
The Social Media Revolution — The 2011 Update
The social media revolutions continues to roll onward.
Setting the Agenda: Key Issues for Scholarly Publishing
What are the key issues for scholarly publishing today? Setting the agenda for productive discussion.
Spam versus Targeting — Which Approach Will Define the Age of Abundance?
As spam defines one end of abundance, targeting enters to deflect the damage. Can they co-exist? Or will one become the defining trait of the age?
iOS: The Evolution of an Agile Business
Looking back, it’s clear Apple’s development of iOS and its device strategy has taken them down paths they didn’t expect — a true sign of agility.
The High Cost of Low Prices — Why Incrementalism Online Could Be Fatal
Incrementalism is a tempting path forward, both familiar and seemingly safe. But the squeeze is on.
The Membership Business Model for Scholarly Communications
The membership business model for scholarly communications is built on a network of reciprocal relationships, where a member’s dues pay both for the privilege of publishing and the right to access.