COMPETITIVE STRATEGIES FOR REPOSITIONING YOUR JOURNAL

Diana L. PesekJournals Manager

April 9, 2013

PSUP JOURNAL PROGRAM

In 2011, PSUP published 13 journals In 2013, PSUP will publish 30 journals

REVIEW OF JOURNAL PROGRAM

Journals Publishing On Time Journals Not Publishing On Time

Reasons Consequences

REPOSITIONING CASE STUDY

History

1946 – Journal started by State University of Iowa 1949 – Acquired by The University of Chicago Press 1961 – Acquired by Penn State University Press

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Journal Characteristics

Respected journal in the field of higher education

Good subscriber retention On time publication 10% acceptance rate – attracted submissions

from senior faculty

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Changes in the Journal

Started publishing erraticallyNo longer attracted appropriate submissionsFocus of articles too narrowWhere junior faculty publishedSubscriber base started to erodeOlder articles accessed more frequently

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Questions

Why didn’t the journal publish on time? Was late publication attracting the wrong

type of manuscripts? Did lateness cause the journal to have too

many rejections and not enough acceptances?

Was the editor contributing to the problem?

REPOSITIONING CASE STUDY

Process

2011 – PSUP Co-sponsored a Colloquium Invited thought leaders in the field of higher education

from around the country Day 1 devoted to general discussions of the field of

higher education – current and future trends Day 2 devoted to analyzing the Journal

Mission Strategy to attract appropriate content Suggestions for new editor and editorial board

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Next Steps

Appointed new editor and editorial board Updated Mission Statement Editor prepared to invite content for 18

months

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Branding

New Cover Design New Text Design Designed Editor Business Cards Updated Website and Editorial Manager with

new Design New Marketing Promotional Materials

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Publicity News Release

NewsWise Chronicle of Higher Education

Mailing List Future Contributors Advisory Board Department Heads University Presidents, Provosts, Deans, Assistant

Deans, Administrators Association Presidents and Executive Directors Political Personnel Media Personnel

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Marketing

Mail Hard Copy – included press release Exchange Ads Ads in PSUP print journals Ads on JSTOR Conference Exhibits