Academic Presses Are Trending Upward Despite the Dominance of Commercial Publishing Houses in the Industry

 [Approximate Reading Time : 4 mins]

Presses associated with universities and academics are increasing in number across the United States. Although commercial publishers hold a dominant position in the publishing environment, academic presses have developed to fill a need within their communities of thinkers and humanitarians. These individuals and organizations seek to share information and causes with each other, as well as spread knowledge and awareness to the rest of the world.

Publishing for a Cause

While commercial publishing companies always have to consider the bottom line when choosing what to publish, academic entities are non-profits. This allows them to take on content that appeals to intellectuals and artists, as well as give a voice to marginalized groups and writers, regardless of trends. They publish a wide variety of work, including:

• Academic research
• Academic and artistic journals
• Regional and minority cultural works
• Translated pieces from overseas authors and scholars
• Reprints of important scholarly and cultural works
• Creative writing pieces and books on the arts
• Educational materials

Expanding the Scope of Readership

With over 140 presses sanctioned by the Association of University Presses and thousands of titles published each year, it’s clear that academic organizations are an increasingly influential group in the realm of publishing. The arts, scholarships and social causes depend on these nonprofits for exposure in an industry where potential sales would otherwise determine their chances of publication. In the digital age, the ability to access content through technology has only strengthened the value of academic publishing, as it enables the materials to reach new audiences.

Learn how Amnet Systems helps universities publish digitally.