(3 Sep 2026) There are two ways to learn about a topic: from deep inside, and from the outside. When it comes to learning about the scholarly communications industry, there are plentiful examples of the former, including this very blog. Just over 12 months ago we started thinking more and more about the latter route. Our newsletter started with that one question — what can scholarly publishers learn from other industries?
This question has coincided with a time of significant technological change — change with at least echoes of the beginnings of the internet, and arguably even on the scale of technologies like steam power, electricity, or even the printing press. As scholarly publishing moves through its second digital transformation, the need to look at broader trends and other industries has never been more important. No one has the right answers, and many wrong turns will be taken, but taking a broad view allows us to see the wood for the trees, focusing on direction rather than detail.
Laura Harvey and Chris Reid shared their thoughts here.
