LIBR 200: Smart Publishing in Education: Rights, Impact, Social Justice

Are academic journal publishers making a profit?

According to this article from the Guardian, Elsevier's profit in 2010 was 36%! Elsevier itself announced "Robust financial performance in unprecedented global recession" in its 2009 Report -- including a 14% increase.

According to Digital Koans in 2009 Wiley reported a full year contribution to profit +14% and fourth quarter contribution to profit +22% on a currency neutral basis.

Case study:

June 9, 2010: The Nature Publishing Group (NPG) proposes to tripe the price of a UC license for Nature and its 67 affiliated journals. The CDL's letter to UC faculty stated that:

• In the past six years, UC authors have contributed some 5,300 articles to NPG journals, 638 in the flagship journal Nature.
• UC author contributions have helped shape the prestige of NPG journals.
• UC faculty also contribute a significant amount of time serving as reviewers, editors and advisory board members.