Locally Sourced, Locally Owned: Independent Society Journal Publishing to Seed Trust and Transformation

The world of journal publishing is grappling with a sustainability crisis, and much like Big Agriculture's farming methods, corporate publisher practices are testing consumers' trust. Concerns have been mounting about for-profit publishers extracting resources from the academy, especially in light of the Open Access movement, as increasing publishing fees threaten a "pay-to-play" future. At the same time, some corporate publishers have removed guaranteed revenues from society contracts, seeking profits without assuming risk. These factors could lead to further inequities in publishing and funding droughts. What steps are needed to course correct? Similar to the locally sourced/owned farming movement, some argue moving to academy-led publishing models could result in more sustainable business practices. This panel will dig into: How more independent society publishing could promote efficient practices and funnel resources into the academy, Pros, and cons of corporate publishing economies of scale, and Organizational and technical opportunities and challenges when publishing in-house.