Very much support this idea. The costs of research for those not in academia are high and this will help many of us to broaden our interests. If publishers are also encouraged as a result to review their charges all the better!
I endorse all the above comments. The key is installing a strong enough review regime to give it credibility without overwhelming the moderator or gassing the golden geese (contributors).
Adam Sutch - 8 years ago
Ross. If the standard is high enough, then absolutely. It's an expensive world out here away from affiliation to an Institution that offers access, if one is trying to keep up.
It would, for instance, be very instructive to see an Air historian's perspective of the events leading to "victory" around Falaise in mid-August 1944 set alongside the views of a historian conversant with the actions of British and Canadian Armour at that time.
I appreciate that it is early days, but have you given some thought to the associated business model? I presume that, as we are talking open access we mean "free at the point of use"? A successful endeavour, especially one across the broad canvas of the Second World War, would require a degree of resource to manage, which must be found.
Finally, if the electronic "Comment" pages of the Daily Telegraph, some of the experience with interactive boards on MOOCs and the more "spotterish" websites are anything to go by, there will need to be an effective filter against a rabid lunatic fringe. There are those for whom the mere mention of "Second World War" is enough to get the spittle rising and the abuse flowing! Adam
Leland Ness - 8 years ago
Absolutely yes. First, many excellent military historians do not have the academic affiliations that give them access to paid websites. Second, much of military history today focuses on the "race, class, gender" themes so beloved in academia today, and while those are legitimate fields of inquiry they have crowded out more traditional studies. With luck an open journal can provide better balance.
Phil McCarty - 8 years ago
All in favour. Although access via things like JSTOR offered by alumni associations are spreading, it is still an expensive business keeping up with journals. Also those of us who are WW2 specialists often have to wade through a lot to get to the meat of the issue. Rob Dover and BCMH have shown it can be done and goodwill enough exists to sustain it in sufficient quality.
Christopher Morgan-Jones - 8 years ago
I would be in favour. Those of us who take a serious interest but are outside academia find it difficult to access many journals unless we pay a fee.This can become prohibitively expensive.
Very much support this idea. The costs of research for those not in academia are high and this will help many of us to broaden our interests. If publishers are also encouraged as a result to review their charges all the better!
I endorse all the above comments. The key is installing a strong enough review regime to give it credibility without overwhelming the moderator or gassing the golden geese (contributors).
Ross. If the standard is high enough, then absolutely. It's an expensive world out here away from affiliation to an Institution that offers access, if one is trying to keep up.
It would, for instance, be very instructive to see an Air historian's perspective of the events leading to "victory" around Falaise in mid-August 1944 set alongside the views of a historian conversant with the actions of British and Canadian Armour at that time.
I appreciate that it is early days, but have you given some thought to the associated business model? I presume that, as we are talking open access we mean "free at the point of use"? A successful endeavour, especially one across the broad canvas of the Second World War, would require a degree of resource to manage, which must be found.
Finally, if the electronic "Comment" pages of the Daily Telegraph, some of the experience with interactive boards on MOOCs and the more "spotterish" websites are anything to go by, there will need to be an effective filter against a rabid lunatic fringe. There are those for whom the mere mention of "Second World War" is enough to get the spittle rising and the abuse flowing! Adam
Absolutely yes. First, many excellent military historians do not have the academic affiliations that give them access to paid websites. Second, much of military history today focuses on the "race, class, gender" themes so beloved in academia today, and while those are legitimate fields of inquiry they have crowded out more traditional studies. With luck an open journal can provide better balance.
All in favour. Although access via things like JSTOR offered by alumni associations are spreading, it is still an expensive business keeping up with journals. Also those of us who are WW2 specialists often have to wade through a lot to get to the meat of the issue. Rob Dover and BCMH have shown it can be done and goodwill enough exists to sustain it in sufficient quality.
I would be in favour. Those of us who take a serious interest but are outside academia find it difficult to access many journals unless we pay a fee.This can become prohibitively expensive.