Are Journal Publishers Trapped in the Dual-Media Transition Zone?

Abstract

Some 15 years after the Web first captured the popular imagination most journals are published in dual print and electronic formats and many are still published in print only. The digital metamorphosis of established journals seems stuck in the transition zone. Publishers are reluctant to turn their backs on existing revenue streams from print subscriptions, even if they are declining. Library subscriptions are not the only piece of the puzzle for many journals, such as those that largely rely on print advertising revenue. For society publishers, membership-related factors further complicate the situation.