STM Association Spring Conference: Are Publishers Listening?
The first day of the Spring STM Conference in Cambridge, Massachusetts, was filled with ideas, different perspectives, and an interactive crowd.
Publishers Risk Losing to Authors: Why the E-Book Waiting Game Will Backfire
The e-book age is here — infrastructure, readers, storefronts. Publishers should heed the warning signs and stop delaying the inevitable.
PLoS’ Squandered Opportunity — Their Problems with the Path of Least Resistance
The Public Library of Science was once a radical force, but is now dependent on author-pays bulk-publishing for its livelihood, which introduces all sorts of problems for every journal publisher. What went wrong?
One Report, Two Findings: Library Roles Changing, Open Access Not Compelling
Ithaka S+R has published a report on libraries and open access. Libraries are still important in the lives of scholars, but the trends are not in their favor. Open access doesn’t seem to be meeting scholars’ needs.
Why Publishers’ Brands Matter
Publishers’ brands matter very much to consumers, but sometimes people are unaware of the role brands play in purchasing decisions.
Clay Shirky’s Collapse of Complexity — Does It Also Require a Collapse of Quality?
Clay Shirky reflects on the end of complexity. He’s right, but can simplified systems produce quality? Can other approaches also survive?
Wikipedia + POD = A Flooded Amazon: The Endless Spigot at Alpha- and Betascript Publishing
Another German publisher tries to profit off printed Wikipedia entries, this time by flooding Amazon with POD compilations.
Finally! An Open Access Publishing App for the iPhone
At 99 cents, this may be the real “killer app” for open access publishing.
OK, Print Isn’t Dying — But It’s Definitely Not the Boss
The editor of “Vanity Fair” claims print isn’t dying. But the death metaphor obscures the reality — print isn’t as important as it once was.
From Me to You: Selling Books on a Direct Basis
As more books are sold in electronic form, they will increasingly be marketed on a direct-to-consumer basis.
Shoveling from Two Piles: How Will Publishers Solve the Conundrum of the iPad?
Publishers can now shovel from two sources: print and online. Will they shovel again when migrating to the tablet? Or will they think anew?
The Inspiration for the “Future of Publishing Video”
“The Future of Publishing” video has a clear antecedent. Does the derivative pale next to the original?
The Future of Publishing: Do We Have It All Backwards?
Clever, clever, and oh so worth watching through to the end:
Money and Motivation: Will Content Survive the Age of Sharing and Collaboration?
The age of collaboration indicates some adjacent sources of value are emerging. Since adjacency is relative, how can publishers ensure that the central pieces remain?
An Interview with Kent Anderson at WritersCast
Interview with Kent Anderson on various issues concerning scholarly publishing and the life of the writer.