Financing Scientific Society Journals in the USA

Abstract

Publishing scientific journals in not-for-profit organizations like the American Chemical Society is big business with a difference. Though the profit motive is absent, there are nevertheless many factors which contribute to a strong need for cost effectiveness and business management skills. US journals published by societies normally are largely dependent on subscription revenues, but physical science and earth science journals also receive substantial revenues from “page charges”. Some ACS journals also receive large sums from advertising, a helpful source of income, but one that is difficult to manage.