Web Publishing

From
Date
I can't help but feel that several things are getting confused in the
discussion of web publishing. The main problem people seem to have with
technical papers appearing on the web is the lack of peer review. However,
I for one don't see a necessary connection between the technical issue of
whether the web is a suitable format to transmit paleontological data and
the quality-control issue which is at the heart of the peer review
procedure. Since all of us review manuscripts for journals all the time
without any money changing hands, it seems perfectly feasible to me that a
high quality paleontological journal, peer-reviewed to the highest
standards, could be published on the web. Whether or not it can be done
isn't the issue. Rather we are (at least rhetorically) faced with the
question of whether or not it should be done.

Now, here's a really radical suggestion. Not only do I think that such and
outlet for paleontological research can and should be available, I also
think that no one should need to subscribe or pay any money for it. It
should be free. I suspect many of the objections we are hearing from our
colleagues are not based on concerns about editorial or scientific quality
standards (those are separate issues can be addressed), but rather are
grounded in the realization that web publishing poses a direct economic
threat to print journals. Why are people suddenly so interested in
electronic publishing? The fact is that aside from having the technology
available to produce an attractive electronic publication, the prices of
print-based scientific journals are out of control. This has to do with the
economics of print publishing and is not the fault of the societies or
other non-commercial organizations that publish the journals. Nevertheless,
the prices hurt all of us, especially those in smaller institutions whose
libraries cannot afford ever escalating subscription costs and who
themselves cannot afford personal subscriptions to the technical journals
in their fields. Electronic publishing is eventually going to dominate
simply because the economics are so attractive. It's high time for
paleontological societies to begin dealing with the electronic publishing
question forthrightly and not holding back hoping that someone figures out
how to maintain print-based profit margins for their printers and their
journals (most journals are printed by commercial businesses and configured
to pump money into the host society to support other activities) in the
coming electronic publishing world.


Norm MacLeod



----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Norman MacLeod
Senior Scientific 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: 0171-938-9006
Dept. FAX:  0171-938-9277
----------------------------------------------------------------------------