Is “Good Enough” Good Enough for You?
Over time, many markets become dominated by low quality, cheap, “good enough” products. How is this common evolutionary pathway playing out in the world of scholarly publishing?
Unsustainable: OA Publishing in the Humanities and Social Sciences
An author-pays open access model for humanities and social sciences journals is not a sustainable option, a detailed analysis of association publishers suggests.
New Technologies and the Need for Standards
It seems like a new e-reading device is announced every day. But each device has its own file format and its own unique interface. How can publishers be expected to develop products for such a fragmented market?
Questioning the Attention Economy
Rupert Murdoch’s plans to charge for access to his newspapers has been widely criticized as it will cut the material out of the wider online conversation. But what good is it to be part of a conversation that doesn’t bring in any revenue?
Successful Web 2.0 Business Models
We’ve all read declaration after declaration that the publishing business model is dead and needs to be replaced by a new one. So far, no one seems to have any idea exactly what that new business model should be. A few recent examples are examined….
More Kindle Limitations Discovered
Two new undocumented DRM limitations make the Kindle a less appealing device.
The End of “Free”
Has free access to content outlived its usefulness as a way of getting noticed?
Twitter’s Business Model Emerges
Twitter’s initial business model won’t be about advertising, proving again how different distribution is these days, and how well Twitter might understand this.
The WSJ’s Payment Curbstop
The WSJ shows just how it’s missing the boat with its latest announcement about micropayments.
Online Audience Growing Fast
New data show how powerful the online channel is becoming, with audience and attention to spare. When will some major players wake up to this reality?
Hulu Dances to the Forefront
In the world of online video, Hulu is making everyone else look stiff and arthritic.