Freemium publishing is proposed as an alternative model to toll access and open access publishing. It suggests making scholarly articles available for free to individual readers while maintaining paid subscriptions for institutions. This addresses the growing number of students and laypeople seeking knowledge while also supporting the needs of authors, funders, and publishers. Freemium publishing aims to balance openness with financial sustainability to benefit all stakeholders in the knowledge economy.

1. FreemiumAccess
Publishing
an alternative to
Toll Access and
Open Access?

2. “The audience which finds your
content interesting and useful
is always larger than
you think.”
AuthorsResearchersStudentsPractitioners, unaffiliated researchers,
educated layman . . . .
Do we know our audience . . .?

3. Demand side: More students = more readers
in the future
50% going to university
c.14 countries in 2000
25 countries in 2010
But they won’t all go into research or work
in subscribing institutions

4. . . . and all these graduates are growing
up in a knowledge economy . . .
No! You have to
subscribe to
knowledge!

5. . . . and the policymakers and funders
are listening . . . and acting . . .
What do you mean, these reports
cost money? We paid for the
@*^%$ research!

6. . . . so publishers are reacting . . .
Don’t worry, Dad, I’m going to turn this
company around 360 degrees!

7. AuthorsResearchersStudentsPractitioners, unaffiliated researchers,
educated layman . . . .
. . . by turning their attention to authors
(and their funders)
. . .at the risk of totally ignoring the needs of . . .
READERS(and their institutions)

8. We need a little balance (and calm)
For the benefit of all stakeholders in the knowledge economy:
• Authors
• Funders
• Taxpayers
• Readers
• Publishers
• Policymakers
• Librarians . . .
FREEMIUM
And we think
may be the new publishing paradigm