From Digitzed Journals to Digital Journals

M. Kelly
Abstract:
The academic papers published in the Internet version of a typical academic journal are not primarily intended for presentation as dynamic documents. The truth is that academic papers are still designed, written and refereed for publication in conventional printed journals. The Internet version of a journal is produced from machine-readable versions of the papers. In other words the Internet journal is a digitized journal rather than a digital one.
While the digitized journal approach offers the advantages of familiarity and consistency with established academic practice, it fails to fully exploit the opportunities for rich modes of communication offered by the Internet. Researchers frequently employ sophisticated presentation techniques at conferences and seminars, so why not apply the same approach to writing for journals?
In "From Digitized Journals to Digital Journals" I will discuss how Internet versions of academic journals can be enriched by encouraging academics to write papers intended from the outset for publication as dynamic documents. I will also address the implications of this approach for the concept of the academic journal.