By Edward Nawotka Yes, it’s a huge question. But the general consensus is the university and academic publishing models are broken. Under pressure from funding bodies to make enough money to be self-sustaining, many university presses have turned away from their core mission of publishing monographs and original research to publishing trade-oriented titles (with mixed results). Those that have stuck …
What is Your Greatest Fear for the Future of Publishing?
By Edward Nawotka Eric Frank, co-founder of Flat World Knowledge, describes the bizarre evolution of the contemporary textbook into “Frankentext,” — what he calls a “overstuffed, overpriced, and unloved” monster. To Frank, the current academic publishing scene is a horror story. Of course, Frank is not alone in looking across the book publishing landscape and seeing monsters. For some, it’s …
Behold, It Lives! Frankentext! (Or How Textbook Publishing Got So Scary)
• The textbook, the revered embodiment of knowledge for more than 150 years, had turned into Frankentext, The Monster: overstuffed, overpriced, and unloved. • Eric Frank, co-founder of Flat World Knowledge, explains why and what might be done to thwart the monster. Editorial by Eric Frank, co-founder, Flat World Knowledge (with a little help from Mary Shelley and Mel Brooks) …
Association of European University Presses Launches
By Hannah Johnson During the Frankfurt Book Fair, the formation of the Association of European University Presses (AEUP) was announced. “Despite the great variety amounts European university presses,” said Marike Schipper of Leuven University Press in her keynote presentation during the launch, the goal of the AEUP is to address issues specific to Europe “with the help of a shared …
How Digital Technology Turbocharges Traditional Education
Editorial by Ron Mobed, Cengage Learning We can all agree that technology is sweeping across the educational frontier like a wildfire. Many say digital innovations transform the relationships between instructors and students, students and learning material, and students and their peers. More important, the correct use of technology, together with high-quality content, pedagogy and instruction, offers a dramatic improvement in …
Berlin Verlag Launches Open Access Academic Press
By Siobhan O’Leary Berlin Verlag plans to launch a new academic division called Berlin Academic. The entire program will be published on a new online platform, a beta version of which will go live this summer, using an open access approach (Creative Commons licenses). The titles will be available via print on demand and in a variety of e-book formats. …
U of Hong Kong & Springer in Open Access Agreement
By Siobhan O’Leary The University of Hong Kong libraries and Springer have signed an open access agreement that will allow academics who are affiliated with the University to publish their research as open access articles in Springer trade journals. According to the Boersenblatt, the articles will be available in print form through the Springer Open ChoiceTM program following peer reviews …