Mobile navigation

Academic & Scientific Media

Academic and scientific publishing runs on a different model from the rest of the industry. Its readers are mostly researchers and clinicians, and its customers are often the libraries and institutions they work for. What it really sells is confidence in the research record.

Open access has become the standard model, moving revenue away from subscriptions towards publishing charges and institutional agreements. Learned societies that switched early have used the change to build data and analytics products around their journals. Where research comes from is changing as well, with a growing share now produced in Asia.

However, it is a common misconception that open access somehow reduces the importance of the publisher. In reality, it is the opposite.

Niels Peter Thomas Academic media

AI raises the stakes. Fabricated papers test peer review on an industrial scale, and publishers are building integrity tools while deciding on what terms to license their content to AI developers.

Science also reaches general readers through magazines and specialist journalists, who face many of the same pressures as the rest of the press.

Below you'll find some of our best feature articles on academic and scientific media, from open access and research integrity to medical journals, institutional sales and science journalism, alongside our latest news and industry commentary.


Essential Resources

Academic media
Best Practice in Publishing

Academic media

We asked Niels Peter Thomas, chief executive officer of BMJ Publishing, what does best practice publishing look like in academic media? This is what he said…

Opportunities & Threats: Academic Media
FEATURE

Opportunities & Threats: Academic Media

The task ahead is clear, says Anke Beck: to harness AI not as a threat but as a catalyst.

Scientific / academic media
The Digital Transformation Journey

Scientific / academic media

Sara Sharman, head of content services, Institution of Engineering and Technology, tells Ciar Byrne about how the scientific / academic media sector is managing the digital transformation journey.

AI in practice: IOP Publishing
AI SPECIAL

AI in practice: IOP Publishing

Laura Feetham-Walker, head of publishing strategy and performance, tells us how IOP Publishing is using AI now and where she sees the best opportunities for future development.

BMJ – finding a wider audience
INTERVIEW

BMJ – finding a wider audience

Pandemics, climate change, health inequality are all existential threats that require expert trusted analysis, and that is why BMJ’s content is increasingly in demand beyond its traditional audience.

Experts – still valued here
PUBLISHER PROFILE

Experts – still valued here

With all the current talk around ‘post-truth’ and ‘alternative facts’, with people like Michael Gove saying they’ve “had enough of experts”, the newly rebranded Emerald Publishing – part of Emerald Group – is sticking to its core values. As Tony Roch

New revenue streams
INTERVIEW

New revenue streams

Mark Allen Group is a big believer in print… and a big believer in digital too! As Matt Cianfarani tells Ciar Byrne, digital publishing is opening up lucrative new revenue streams for the group’s healthcare titles.

You’ve got to take risks
INTERVIEW

You’ve got to take risks

Catherine de Lange of New Scientist was crowned Editors’ Editor of the Year at the BSME Awards. Here, she talks about her trend-spotting tricks, the “pub test” the team employ for stories & how she’s running a 70-year-old publication like a start-up.

Not just rocket science
OUT & ABOUT WITH ALAN GEERE

Not just rocket science

With big issues like AI and robotics, climate change and space exploration, it’s difficult to keep science off the front pages. But what does all this mean for the science journalists and writers who are forever adding context and explanation?


All Articles

RELX releases a trading update
News

RELX releases a trading update

RELX last week reported strong underlying revenue growth for the first nine months of 2026 and reaffirms the full year outlook.

29/10/2026

Frontiers announces pledge
News

Frontiers announces pledge

Frontiers has pledged €1.6 million worth of support to make Horizon Europe research data AI-ready at AI in Science Summit.

21/10/2026

Elsevier commits to accelerate AI-driven science across Europe
News

Elsevier commits to accelerate AI-driven science across Europe

Elsevier last week announced its pledge to the European Commission's AI in Science Enablers Initiative.

21/10/2026

Taylor & Francis signs new open access agreement Italian university association
News

Taylor & Francis signs new open access agreement Italian university association

CRUI partnership supports OA publishing of all eligible articles in over 2,100 journals.

21/10/2026

The Lancet may halt publication as workers strike again over pay
News

The Lancet may halt publication as workers strike again over pay

The Lancet, one of the world’s leading medical journals, could be forced to cancel publication for the first time in 200 years as workers strike again over pay.

20/10/2026

IOP Publishing and China Science Publishing & Media announce partnership
News

IOP Publishing and China Science Publishing & Media announce partnership

The strategic partnership aims to expand the discovery and reach of global research content in China.

19/10/2026

Taylor & Francis announces plans to relocate
News

Taylor & Francis announces plans to relocate

Taylor & Francis is planning to relocate its main office to Oxford city centre.

15/10/2026

Frontiers announces new agreement
News

Frontiers announces new agreement

Frontiers and SANLiC announce a national open access publishing agreement for South Africa.

14/10/2026

AI in practice: IOP Publishing
AI SPECIAL

AI in practice: IOP Publishing

Laura Feetham-Walker, head of publishing strategy and performance, tells us how IOP Publishing is using AI now and where she sees the best opportunities for future development.

By Laura Feetham-Walker  |  13/10/2026

Informa PLC issues company update
News

Informa PLC issues company update

The strategy to accelerate growth continues with further expansion in B2B Live Events and the separation of Academic Markets.

08/10/2026

IOP Publishing signs up to the TRUST Code
News

IOP Publishing signs up to the TRUST Code

The new guidance sets clear expectations for fair and inclusive global collaboration.

08/10/2026

BMJ Group publishes 2026 impact report
News

BMJ Group publishes 2026 impact report

BMJ Group’s latest annual impact report highlights how trusted evidence is contributing to better decisions, stronger health systems and improved health outcomes around the world.

24/09/2026

The Journal for Community Studies launches
News

The Journal for Community Studies launches

A new Journal for Community Studies launches to bridge the gap between academic research and community voice.

22/09/2026

Springer Nature appoints Patric Somlo
News

Springer Nature appoints Patric Somlo

Springer Nature has announced the appointment of Patric Somlo as chief financial officer.

07/09/2026

Scientific organisations unite to launch AI Horizons
News

Scientific organisations unite to launch AI Horizons

Scientific organisations have united to launch AI Horizons: a new diamond OA journal for AI in engineering and science.

03/09/2026

751 articles