1. Thinking inside the Box
Publishing Journals with a University Press
Joseph J. Esposito
(espositoj@gmail.com)
SSP Conference
San Francisco
June 2007

2. Topics
• The situation at Human Factors
• A methodology for assessing a publishing
organization
• Crystal ball: 5 years out
• When consolidation works, and when it
doesn’t
• What a university press can and cannot do
• Not the solution for all publishers

3. Assumptions about Human Factors
• Small organization
• Membership receives some or all
publications for free (as part of
membership fee)
• Several markets: academic libraries,
industry, government
• No rich endowment to draw on

4. Strategic Issues for Human Factors
• Membership “creams off” best customers
(because they get publications for free)
• Lack of scale limits range of activity and
effectiveness in marketplace
• Lack of capital inhibits investments in technology
• Diverse marketing channels strain marketing
infrastructure
• Success of program could invite unwelcome
competition from better-resourced publishers

5. Survey of University Press Journal
Operations
• Wide range, from 1 journal to 50 or more
• Profitability/(unprofitability) varies
• Some presses (5-10) have achieved some
scale of operations (but none compare to
Elsevier, Wiley Blackwell, et al)
• Larger journal programs all have online
solutions
• Can manage print as well as digital eds.
• Part of academic, not-for-profit community

6. Crystal Ball (5 Years Out)
• Academic libraries push print to the margin
• Increasing purchasing by library consortia
• Consortia show preference for digital
aggregations (Big and Little Deals)
• Investment in technology soars
• Consolidation, consolidation, consolidation
• Niche channels outside libraries require focused
effort
• Open access finds its place, but does not
supplant “user-pays” publications

7. Why Choose a University Press?
• Immediate benefit of scale of operations;
provides (almost) complete infrastructure
• Online solutions in place, but can also
handle hardcopy
• Emerging opportunity to create and
market aggregations (“Little Deals”)
• Good library relations for most part
• Part of NFP, academic community
• Potential for editorial cross-fertilization

8. Is This Press Right for You?
• Society commitment to NFP sector?
• Experience with marketing aggregations?
• Related titles to bring to aggregations (of
growing importance)?
• Flexible software to serve diverse
channels?
• Flexible business arrangements?
• University commitment to its Press
(critical)?

9. What to Look for in a Deal
• Identified account manager; bench strength
• Transparent and detailed financial arrangement;
good systems
• Availability of senior staff to meet with society
leaders
• Unambiguous evidence of ability to work in print
and online
• Editorial synergy (esp. for aggregations)
• Option to reserve some marketing rights
• 5-year mutual commitment

10. Is Human Factors a Good Candiate
for a University Press?
• Benefit from library marketing
• Solves technology investment problem
• NFP alignment (Is this important?)
• Could benefit from editorial linkages, esp.
for aggregations
• Almost certainly must retain marketing
rights for industry and government
• Need to assess geographical footprint

11. Recommendations
• Do not proceed without a publishing partner
• Prepare RFP; submit to 2-3 university presses and 2
commercial publishers
• Include in RFP a 5-year vision statement without
platitudes. This is the single most important success
factor.
• Identify metrics for success, both quantitative and
qualitative
• Have proposals reviewed by experienced publishers
• Do not under any circumstances compromise the
editorial integrity of your program