Special Issue

With seismic shifts in the research publishing landscape, how do societies need to adapt for their members? Embracing ‘openness’ in every sense – championing collaborative, diverse and inclusive communities, and advancing research that is accessible to all – is the key to societies remaining sustainable in an open future and staying at the heart of their communities.

Taking a 360-degree view on ‘openness’, we dive into insights from this year’s Wiley Society Member Survey, to explore what matters to members, and how societies can deliver the support they need now and in the future.

As we transition towards Open, societies, publishers and institutions all have a part to play in breaking down barriers and improving equity in Research Publishing. So how can we go about achieving this goal? This is where R4Life comes in. We talked to Sarah Phibbs, Director of Publisher Partnerships, to find out about the work they are doing and how publishers and societies can work with them to break down barriers to open access.

How can societies shape their strategies, to make the most of opportunities in open access and position their journals for an open future? And what role do transformational agreements (TAs) play in those strategies; how can societies use TAs to develop and enhance the way that they deliver for their communities?

In this episode, we hear from the Tri-Societies (the American Society of Agronomy, the Crop Science Society of America, and the Soil Science Society of America). They share their own perspective on OA and the role of TAs in helping them to achieve their goals. Thanks to Matt and the Tri-Societies for sharing their insights!

How do we develop journals, so they are fit for an open future? We don’t just need to adapt our workflows and infrastructure, we also need to adapt our mindset. Evolution and Ecology is an open access journal, launched by multiple societies working together. Their philosophy and innovative mindset have helped them to succeed in the current market and to deliver for authors via their Refer & Transfer network. But it has also helped them to build the foundations for them to thrive in an open future.

Why is it important that societies communicate their impact and value to their communities? And how can you approach this exercise effectively? To help overcome the challenges of declining membership, societies need to communicate their role and all the work they undertake to their communities effectively, to build transparency and understanding of who they are and what they do. Not only that, but reflection is an important aspect of successful strategizing, and exercises to articulate your impact helps you build accountability and ensure you’re staying relevant.

FENS is the Federation of European Neuroscience Societies. Such a large organization has its work cut out, to capture all the work they do and distill it in an engaging format for their communities. So how did they approach this exercise and what did they learn from the experience? Jackie Jones, Associate Editorial Director here at Wiley, had a conversation with them to find out more.

Thank you FENS, for sharing your insights!

What’s the secret to successfully launching an open access journal? And what are some of the opportunities available to us, through which we can innovate and collaborate? In this episode, we hear how two societies launched an open access journal with Wiley, and how they achieved success.

What’s the difference between engagement and inclusion? 1 in 5 researchers is an Early Career Researcher, which means there is plenty of opportunity to develop closer connections with this group. In turn, societies and their journals can benefit from the innovative ideas of ECRs. Actively including ECRs in the day-to-day workings and development of a journal, over engaging with them from time to time, can offer mutual advantages. Paul Trevorrow takes us through some case studies of ECR engagement and inclusion, discussing the pros and cons of each.

In an evolving publishing landscape, how can you ensure your society’s revenue is sustainable? You can explore diversifying your revenue in a few ways, by adapting the ways you currently serve your community – as well as looking at new opportunities. Gavin Sharrock has over 20 years of experience of helping society partners to diversify and build their revenue streams. He’s here with his top tips on what your approach should be.

'Risk governance’ and ‘Legal Liability’ - two phrases that board directors dread to hear. But it’s important that boards manage risk effectively, to avoid facing problems further down the line.

Richard LeBlanc, an award-winning board governance expert, is here to help! In this episode, he shares top tips and insights for how not-for-profit boards can manage risk and minimize liability.

Get more news and information on society publishing from Wiley:

Website - wiley.com/network/societyleaders

Twitter - @WileyinResearch

In this episode we’ll hear from panelists Angela Cochran, Jay Flynn and Bill Moran on the Future of Publishing, a talk which took place at the most recent Wiley Society Executive Seminar in November 2021. But first, meet the panelists., Angela Cochran is the Vice President of Publishing for the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), Jay Flynn is the Executive Vice President and General Manager of Research at Wiley, and Bill Moran is the publisher for science journals at the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). Hear these experts share their perspectives on the current publishing landscape and how organizations can adjust practices to remain sustainable in the future.