Blackwell Publishing

As the world's leading society publisher, Blackwell Publishing's mission is to create long-term partnerships with our clients that enhance learning, disseminate research, and improve the quality of professional practice. This means working with our society partners to meet the needs of the wider academic community, and this now includes an innovative new publishing model.

Online Open - a new, pay-to-publish service

In February 2005 Blackwell Publishing launched Online Open, an author-pays publishing model. Online Open offers authors who wish to publish their research in a Blackwell journal the opportunity to ensure that their article is immediately made freely available for all to access online. This new pay-to-publish option is an important part of Blackwell's response to the calls for open access and our commitment to viable, high-quality publishing on behalf of societies. Thirty journals have opted to offer their authors open access through the Online Open service, which will be on trial through to the end of 2006.

'We're very pleased that these journals have chosen to innovate in this way,' said Bob Campbell, President of Blackwell Publishing. He also pointed out the large number of journal editorial boards that had chosen not to participate in the Online Open trial, preferring instead to wait and see whether author-pays open access would 'take off' before committing to it. 'As the largest society publisher we are committed to consultation with our society partners and journal editorial boards. We've found that many either felt that their author self-archiving and free backfile policies already met the demands for open access, or that the communities in which they operate would not have the funding to support an author-pays service like Online Open.'

Publisher of choice for societies

More scholarly societies choose Blackwell Publishing than any other single publisher. In 2005, 47 society journals moved their publishing arrangements to Blackwell Publishing as part of an expansion that saw a total of 65 journal titles added to our list. This growth will continue with a number of high-profile society publications already committing to Blackwell for 2006.

This strength in society publishing benefits the wider research community. Society journals offer excellent value and the highest standards of quality. They also play a vital part in helping societies fulfil a broader role within their academic or professional community, supporting activities such as conferences and professional development.

contact details

Colin Meddings
Tel: +44 1865 776868
Fax: +44 1865 714591
Email: colin.meddings@oxon.blackwellpublishing.com
Web: www.blackwellpublishing.com