Scientific publishing is a rip-off. We fund the research – it should be free | George Monbiot

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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Academic Publishing in China 2017: Beijing Normal University Press Group

Armed with a capital investment of 300 million CNY, the establishment of Beijing Normal University Publishing Group in July 2007 gave China its very first university press group to focus on educational titles. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2017-09-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Academic Publishing in China 2017: Social Sciences Academic Press

As its name suggests, SSAP is the go-to publisher in China for scholarly titles in the humanities and social sciences. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2017-09-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Academic Publishing in China 2017: Chongqing University Press

CQUP differentiates itself with an abundance of well-designed and glossy publications that are heavy on research and yet accessible to nonacademic readers. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2017-09-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Academic Publishing in China 2017: Xi’an Jiaotong University Press

A 1986 merger with a university publishing unit that specialized in audio and video products gave XJUP a comprehensive portfolio that covers different content formats. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2017-09-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Academic Publishing in China 2017: Shaanxi Normal University General Publishing House

Publications on Shaanxi regional culture and history—such as "A Comprehensive History of Shaanxi" are a niche segment at SNUGPH. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2017-09-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Academic Publishing in China 2017: New Titles from Chinese Academic Presses

Deploying a heavier editorial hand in tweaking research-laden content into accessible pages is becoming de rigueur. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2017-09-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Academic Publishing in China 2017: Distribution of Academic Titles

Textbooks for primary through junior high schools (the compulsory school years) fall under the Chinese government’s procurement program and are usually purchased in bulk and supplied to schools and libraries. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2017-09-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Time to talk up the industry

The academic publishing and bookselling sectors are facing multiple calls to “talk up what you do” in the face of a changing political environment around higher education. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-05-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Publish or Plug In? Debating Academic Books and Digital Dynamics

'I completely disagree with the phrase "publish or perish," says one voice in academic publishing. So what does the digital disruption disrupt? The post Publish or Plug In? Debating Academic Books and Digital Dynamics appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2017-04-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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London Digital 2017: Can Self-Publishing Crack the Academic Market?

PW talks to Daniel Berze, senior v-p of academic publishing for Glasstree, who says the traditional scholarly publishing model is broken—and self-publishing can help fix it. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2017-03-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Lulu launches academic alternative

Amid the plethora of new models for academic publishing comes Glasstree, a DIY offering from US self-publishing company Lulu.com. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-02-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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CUP appoints Shull as Academic s.v.p. in the Americas

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[ The Bookseller | 2017-01-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Wiley’s Philip Carpenter Looks Back on a Career in Academic Publishing

'The best thing any leader can do is simply to listen,' outgoing Wiley research executive vice-president Philip Carpenter says as he reflects on his academic publishing career. The post Wiley’s Philip Carpenter Looks Back on a Career in Academic Publishing appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2016-11-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Implications of Brexit for the UK Academic Market

Threats and opportunities were considered by leading figures from academic publishing at Thursday’s panel discussion on Brexit. The post The Implications of Brexit for the UK Academic Market appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2016-10-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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U.K.'s Informa Agrees to Buy Aviation Week Publisher Penton for $1.6 Billion

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[ Advertising Age | 2016-09-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Ross replaces Pinter at Manchester University Press

Simon Ross, formerly Cambridge University Press's deputy managing director for academic publishing as well as CUP global business development director, has been appointed as the new c.e.o. of Manchester University Press. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-07-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Fisher takes on policy role at IPG

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[ The Bookseller | 2016-07-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Library News: A New Librarian of Congress; A Budget Boost, and a New Branch for NYPL

Among the headlines: Carla Hayden is confirmed as librarian of Congress; New York libraries land a historic budget increase; NYPL opens its new 53rd St. branch; and two significant developments in the open-access movement. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-07-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Penguin to publish cricketer Chris Gayle's 'outrageous' memoir

Penguin Random House is publishing the memoir of "the most in-demand cricketer of the modern era" - West Indies cricket "legend" Chris Gayle. Continue reading at The Bookseller

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At #FutureBook15: New prominence for academic publishing

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[ The Bookseller | 2015-12-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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