Online Publishing

A general model of publication

Although the medium and the material may differ vastly, essentially the same common process is always involved in publication (Fig. 1). For on-line publications this model makes it possible to automate many of the steps involved (see module on Automated document processing).

Figure 1. A model for the publication process. The same general pattern of steps occurs whatever the publication and whatever the type of material involved.

This model encompasses all the stages described earlier, but in a somewhat more formalized form. We can summarize the steps as follows:

Submission

The author submits material to the editor.

Acquisition

The publisher acquires material. Here we take this to include permissions. Details of the submission are recorded and an acknowledgment is sent to the author.

Quality assurance

The material is checked. Errors are referred back to the author for correction.

Production

The material is prepared for publication. This stage includes copy-editing, design, typesetting, printing and binding. Proofs are checked both by the author and editor and any typesetting errors are corrected. For books, an ISBN number is obtained.

Distribution

The publication is shipped to stores etc for sale. It is publicized so that people know that it is available.

The Internet offers advantages for publications of all-kinds. These include:

ЎP instant world-wide availability;

ЎP publication features of the World-Wide Web;

ЎP eliminating distribution costs;

ЎP reducing production costs - no need to print "hard copy";

ЎP potential world-wide audience; and

ЎP "niche"/special interest publishing becomes viable.

The World Wide Web expands the traditional notion of a publication in several ways:

ЎP it is possible to include multimedia elements;

ЎP it is possible to include hyperlinks to information anywhere;

ЎP it is possible to draw together information from many different sources;

ЎP hypermedia books are not limited to the traditional "linear" structure of printed books. They can, for instance, provide several alternative paths through a set of documents, or allow readers to pursue material to whatever depth they wish; and

ЎP it diminishes the distinction between tradtitional text-oriented publications and other products, such as databases and on-line software.

Legal issues

Legal issues abound in the publishing business. Although legal issues are not dealt with in detail here the editor should make every effort to keep up to date with issues and changes. Each publication should be carefully checked to ensure that legal risks are minimized. Some of the legal matters involved in publishing include:

ЎP Contracts

Publishers always need to ensure the legal status of material that they publish. For instance, there is normally some form of contract with the author that spells out the terms and conditions under which the material is published.

ЎP Copyright and permissions

Ensuring permission to reproduce material belonging to others is one of the most regular and time-consuming legal issues that editors have to face.

ЎP Defamation and libel

Publishers often bear the legal burden for offensive or damaging remarks made by an author.

ЎP Liability

Authors, editors amd publishers can all be held liable for damages caused by a publication. An example would be a reference of textbook in which erroneous facts and figures led (say) to errors in a building or circuitry and consequently to severe financial loss.

ЎP Plagiarism

Writers sometimes borrow ideas, words or material from other writers. Whenever they do so, authors should clearly acknowledge the source using references, footnotes or other appropriate device.