As an ex-employee of a major international publishing company particularly active in our field, and a member of their pension scheme, I am loath to say publishers do nothing for their money.
When I left publishing in 2000 the major costs were paper, print and distribution. Plus ongoing investment in online technology. Plus of course there are all the usual business costs to cover, finance, HR, pensions etc.
Continuing to produce hard copy for decreasing lists of subscribers actually pushes the unit costs up, not withstanding savings on mailing costs.
It is true that many of the processes around STM publishing are carried out for free by academic colleagues. The element the publishers provide is coordination and the medium of publishing. Some also now provide online versions of papers at an early stage, as a benefit to readers.
If we could provide the additional level of coordination required, a similar level of review and helpful editing, and ongoing commitment to the process an online peer reviewed, free access journal could be born for the Geo-Tectonics community. Or is that what the academic societies should be doing?
Regards
Roy P Dunn BSc FGS (no current academic affiliation)
Roy P Dunn
07808586172
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