How It All Began
As founders, editors and managers of the Diamond Open Access journal Journal for Religion, Film and Media (JRFM), we had to learn from scratch how to establish, distribute and coordinate a high-quality open access academic publication. Over time, we developed and implemented a strategy for publishing an academic journal in the Humanities that aligns with the needs of the academic community and our human and financial resources in collaboration with editors, authors, readers, university libraries, IT departments, and a publishing house.
JRFM combines traditional publishing tasks in the Humanities – such as rigorous double-blind peer review and meticulous copy editing – with personal communication to foster a vibrant and efficient network. Today, the journal has developed into a digital exchange platform involving a worldwide academic community. It publishes articles free of charge for both readers and authors thanks to the support and commitment of universities and further public institutions. Funded by a grant by the DFG programme Scientific Library Services and Information Systems, we are currently improving the journal’s infrastructure. However, the question of long-term resources for financial and organisational sustainability remains unsolved, not only for JRFM, but for many Diamond Open Access Journal in the Humanities.
Concept
The workshop offers a space to critically reflect on current practices and strategies for Open Access journals in the Humanities, and to collaboratively explore solutions for their long-term sustainability.
Key questions are:
- How can we ensure Open Access to high-quality, innovative research in the Humanities for both authors and readers?
- How can content be effectively disseminated to a broad, global audience?
- How can free publication and distribution of scientific content be made viable and financially sustainable in the long term?
Participants
We warmly invite experts committed to Open Access policies to share and discuss experiences and strategies in Open Access publishing in the Humanities, including
- editors of Open Access journals,
- authors and readers,
- university libraries and IT services,
- academic institutions and public funding bodies,
- government institutions in science and education,
- publishing houses.
Working Style
The workshop is designed as an interactive forum fostering an intensive exchange among participants. Short presentations will provide impulses for discussions in plenary sessions and in smaller working groups.
Aims
The workshop aims at providing a platform for sharing the experiences and expertise. Furthermore, the possibility of formulating a position paper for a sustainable Open Access strategies for the future.
Organisation
Dr. Natalie Fritz, natalie.fritz@evtheol.uni-muenchen.de
Prof. Dr. Daria Pezzoli-Olgiati, pezzoli@lmu.de
Study of Religion and the History of Religion
Faculty for Protestant Theology
LMU Munich
Geschwister-Scholl-Platz 1
80539 Munich