How Can Smaller, Nonprofit Publishers Keep Up in an Increasingly Competitive Scholarly Publishing Landscape?
From the humble beginnings of paper-based journals to now, when extensively researched scholarly work is just a click away—the scholarly publishing industry has come a long way, evolving, and reshaping how research is disseminated. In the era leading up to 1945, society publishers dominated the scholarly publishing scene. However, the years between 1945 and 1970 witnessed the formalization of science, prompting the entry of commercial publishers who solidified their influence in scholarly publishing. As the years rolled on, reaching the mid-90s, commercial publishers further consolidated their positions, and the advent of online platforms marked the beginning of journals transitioning into the digital sphere.
The increasing number of journals and publishers has also created a crowded and competitive marketplace, making it especially challenging for smaller nonprofit publishers to keep up with the trends and demands of a changing landscape and author needs. Market consolidation has gradually risen since 2000, resulting in top publishers now holding a larger share of the market. The situation becomes even more drastic when focusing on larger publisher sets. This Scholarly Kitchen article provides invaluable insights into these trends.
Smaller publishers are incredibly important to the research community, especially given the role they play in helping to maintain a diverse and open scholarly publishing environment. Their contributions are essential in promoting a comprehensive and inclusive academic conversation. In this competitive and not to mention constantly evolving scholarly publishing landscape, what are some of the key considerations for smaller presses to continue to make their mark and thrive?
1. Advancing Niche Research Areas
By specializing in niche subject areas, publishers have the chance to stand out in the industry. By dedicating themselves to these specialized fields, they can support subject areas that may be overlooked by major publishers and give way to groundbreaking research. This focused approach allows them to not just survive but thrive in a competitive landscape.
Take for example, Annual Reviews, which is a nonprofit publisher that offers high-quality review articles across a wide range of specialized fields, with individual journals focusing on specific areas of research within the Annual Reviews portfolio.
Publishing houses that specialize in specific research areas also tend to have a better understanding of their authors and their fields. Consequently, this allows them to add their own expertise to the submitted work. Consider the peer review process, for instance. Editors at these publishing houses have an extensive network of connections and possess valuable insights into selecting the most suitable experts for reviewing manuscripts, contributing to the overall advancement of knowledge in their fields.
2. Fostering Community Ties
Smaller publishers have the unique opportunity to nurture connections with their contributors and authors. By offering consistent and enriching services, publishers can strengthen the development of close-knit relationships within specific subject communities. They are better positioned to provide a more personalized approach to publishing that may be difficult for larger publishers to replicate. It also allows for more personalized attention and support for individual authors, helping to cultivate a keen sense of partnership and loyalty within the publishing ecosystem.
Gorgias Press, founded and operated by scholars for scholars, features a team of accomplished academics who collaborate closely with authors at every stage to ensure that their work is published and produced in the best way possible. They also provide a wide range of opportunities to market books, including prominent book distribution channels and marketing campaigns. This level of personal connection between publishers and authors helps foster a deeper understanding and appreciation for the material being published.
3. Adapting to Open Access
The global movement towards open access (OA) has been supported by various stakeholders as a means to enhance research accessibility and impact. However, some publishers, especially smaller enterprises, face challenges as they have traditionally relied on subscription revenues to sustain their publishing activities.
Considering the evolving scholarly publishing landscape, smaller publishers can collaborate with commercial publishers or larger university presses or outsource certain aspects of their publishing operations. Society publishers, in particular, can benefit from automating specific business tasks to allocate their available resources more strategically. Collaborations among societies, specifically in the context of society journals, can also be a strong avenue and offer benefits like increased reach, impact, as well as reduced costs and risks. For instance, The Society Publishers’ Coalition (SocPC) has been instrumental in piloting models for a more sustainable path towards transitioning to OA.
For smaller or independent presses, OA transition options like article processing charge models or transformative agreements can pose limitations or often involve significant financial risk. Subscribe to Open (S2O) is an alternative sustainable open access model that offers several advantages, as demonstrated by this case study analyzing the impact of S2O adoption by IWA Publishing, a society publisher.
Successfully embracing OA hinges on such strategic transitions, based on their individual needs and objectives. These partnerships have the potential to offer publishers access to global networks, specialized expertise, and cutting-edge technical infrastructure, positioning societies to flourish in this new environment.
Conclusion
The smaller size of these presses allows them to adapt more quickly to challenges. In addition, the emphasis on community and commitment to advancing their respective fields fosters a sense of belonging and purpose among authors. This collaborative environment not only enhances the publishing process but also contributes to a more inclusive scholarly community. Their ability and willingness to adapt and experiment with innovative ideas will be crucial. By embracing emerging technologies and exploring innovative publishing models, small nonprofit publishers can position themselves as dynamic and competitive stakeholders in the scholarly publishing landscape.
