Those who take on the global industry that traps research behind paywalls are heroes, not thievesNever underestimate the power of one determined person. What Carole Cadwalladr has done to Facebook and big data, and Edward Snowden has done to the state security complex, Alexandra Elbakyan has done to the multibillion-dollar industry that traps knowledge behind paywalls. Sci-Hub, her pirate web scraper service, has done more than any government to tackle one of the biggest rip-offs of the modern era: the capture of publicly funded research that should belong to us all. Everyone should be free to learn; knowledge should be disseminated as widely as possible. No one would publicly disagree with these sentiments. Yet governments and universities have allowed the big academic publishers to deny these rights. Academic publishing might sound like an obscure and fusty affair, but it uses one of the most ruthless and profitable business models of any industry.The model was pioneered by the notorious conman Robert Maxwell. He realised that, because scientists need to be informed about all significant developments in their field, every journal that publishes academic papers can establish a monopoly and charge outrageous fees for the transmission of knowledge. He called his discovery “a perpetual financing machine”. He also realised that he could capture other people’s labour and resources for nothing. Governments funded the research published by his company, Pergamon, while... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'
[ The Guardian | 2018-09-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The senior editor at Simon & Schuster, who acquired NBA finalist ‘Temple Folk’ after putting out a call for submissions on Instagram, wants to make the publishing industry more transparent and accessible. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-11-24 05:00:00 UTC ]
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New York Governor Kathy Hochul has signed New York state bill S5026—known as the Freelance Isn’t Free Act, and intended to protect freelance workers including authors and journalists on contract—into law. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-11-22 05:00:00 UTC ]
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After Mosab Abu Toha was detained by the Israeli Defense Forces on November 19, organizations including PEN International and his publisher, City Lights, called for his protection and release. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-11-21 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Editors at four children’s imprints that focus on promoting underrepresented authors tell 'PW' how they got their start and what they love about their work. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-11-17 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Our annual industry survey reveals a modest median pay increase and minor improvements in workforce diversity across trade book publishers. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-11-17 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Our annual industry survey reveals a modest median pay increase and minor improvements in workforce diversity across trade book publishers. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-11-17 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Broadcaster NDR launches investigation after Hubert Seipel admits receiving support for work on two books on Russian leaderA German publisher has announced a stop to the sale of books authored by a leading journalist and Russia expert after an investigation showed he had received at least... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2023-11-15 14:31:23 UTC ]
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Employees at D&Q, the Montreal-based literary graphic novel publisher, and its sister bookstore, Librairie Drawn & Quarterly, are unionizing. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-11-15 05:00:00 UTC ]
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It’s the middle of November, which means that, for many of us, the days are a not-quite-enviable blend of colder and shorter (why we still use Daylight Savings Time is a mystery I’ll save for elsewhere). But never fear, there’s a bit of brightness ahead: a whole slew of exciting new books to... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2023-11-14 10:00:13 UTC ]
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Several digital publishers are doubling down on the business they still carry some authority over: events. Continue reading at Digiday
[ Digiday | 2023-11-14 05:01:00 UTC ]
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Attorneys for a group of booksellers and publishing industry associations argue that a district court in Texas correctly enjoined HB 900, and that the injunction should be allowed to stand. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-11-14 05:00:00 UTC ]
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It took Phaidon, which turned 100 this year, 82 years to step into the kitchen. But once it did, it found a niche of its own—and owned it. Executive commissioning editor of food Emily Takoudes spoke with PW about the publisher's cookbook program. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-11-14 05:00:00 UTC ]
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After executive roles at Grosset & Dunlap and Simon & Schuster, Artenstein launched RGA/Lowell House in 1984, and sold the company to the NTC/Contemporary Publishing Group in 1998. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-11-13 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Nicholas Cornwell will return his father’s best-loved spy to the page in a new novel set between The Spy Who Came in from the Cold and Tinker Tailor Soldier SpyFans of thriller writer David Cornwell – better known by his pen name John le Carré – may have thought they had seen the last of... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2023-11-10 14:00:10 UTC ]
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By publishing unflinching books on topics often perceived as controversial, small publishers can combat restrictions on intellectual freedom. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-11-10 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Three of the Big Five publishers struggled in the first nine months of 2023, according to recent financial results, as the industry coped with sagging sales and rising costs. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-11-10 05:00:00 UTC ]
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What are some of the best indie publishing companies to follow to find your next excellent read? One reader investigates. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2023-11-09 11:33:00 UTC ]
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When asked about their plans for their publishing programs, several publishers of academic religious books shared their ideas. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-11-08 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Fitzhenry, the president and CEO of Canadian distribution and publishing company Fitzhenry & Whiteside Limited, died on August 26. A celebration of her life will be held on November 14. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-11-08 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Our annual ranking of the world’s biggest book publishers was once again topped by the STM and legal giant, which toppled Pearson from its perch in 2018. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-11-03 04:00:00 UTC ]
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