On-line Paleo. Pubs.

From
Date
Reply-To
Henry Gee notes...

>Online publications -- this will happen, in time. The problem is less with
>technology than with cost control. It's easy to put something out on the
>internet, but less easy to get people to pay for it (which, in any case,
>seems somewhat contrary to the spirit of the thing). The middle way is
>to make CD-ROM versions of journals. This is already well under way.


I agree that online publications will happen but what are those costs you
mention Henry?  For instance PaleoNet could, if it's subscribers wanted to,
implement an occasional series of online articles that could be distributed
through the ftp site.  Anyone who wants a copy could just download it.
Most academic journal editors and reviewers I know work for free.  What
other costs would there be?  So far as paying for on on-line journal, so
long as it's done on a small scale and doesn't take up much disk space I
don't immediately see any need for anyone to pay for it.  Perhaps it's my
lack of a sufficient profit motive but since the InterNet has put the tools
for "no-cost" mass communication at our fingertips, why not use them?  Most
of the publication budget in a typical non-commercial journal goes to
either to the printer or to the post office.  Electronic publication
circumvents both of those.  I think that the paleo. community should take a
serious look at electronic pubs. for certain types of contributions.

Norm MacLeod


----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Norman MacLeod
Senior Science Officer
N.MacLeod@nhm.ac.uk (Internet)
N.MacLeod@uk.ac.nhm (Janet)

Address: Dept. of Palaeontology, The Natural History Museum,
                     Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD

Office Phone: 071-938-9006
Dept. FAX:  071-938-9277
----------------------------------------------------------------------------