Tadween Roundup: News and Analysis from the Publishing/Academic World

Tadween Publishing brings you the latest news and analysis from the publishing and academic worlds that relate to pedagogy and knowledge production.

Crowdfunding Academic Research
By Lauren Ingeno (Insider Higher Ed)

With decreased federal and university research funding, academics are having an increasingly difficult time finding adequate funding for their research projects. To remedy this, some are turning to online fundraising as a method of filling the void.

New press hits on ‘third way’ between traditional and self-publishing
By Alison Flood (The Guardian)

In an attempt to strike a balance between the publishing models of old and new, Notting Hill Press is taking a risk by choosing to allow some authors to keep their connection with the publishing company while allowing them to also pursue independent publishing.

A Potential Renaissance for Arabic Translation
By Ursula Lindsey (Al Fanar)

In 2003, the United Nations-sponsored Arab Human Development Report criticized regional efforts at translation as being “chaotic” and far behind on the translation of historical texts. Ursula Lindsey writes about the attempts being made by some academics to increase translation efforts in the region and reasons for previous shortfalls, including government restrictions on what types of texts could be translated.

Professors Are About to Get an Online Education
By Andy Kessler (Wall Street Journal)

Georgia Tech recently announced that it will be offering its first online masters degree in computer science, taking MOOCs and online education to a new level with credit driven courses. Georgia Tech claims that it is cheaper and more efficient; but are MOOCs the future of education?

Book Publishing May Save Itself
By Steve Cohen (Forbes)

At the conclusion of the annual BookExpo America in New York City, publishers appeared less concerned with the woes of the publishing industry and more relieved that they survived the worst of the book world’s transformational phase and economic storm. Steve Cohen for Forbes explains that publishers are now more optimistic about the future of innovation in the industry.

Publishers Offer CHORUS as Solution to Federal Open Access Requirements
By Meredith Schwartz (Library Journal)

To fulfill recent government requirements which require open access to federally funded research, the Association of American Publishers has composed a solution: the Clearinghouse for the Open Research of the United States (CHORUS).

Are Ebooks Worse For Kids Than Paper Books?
By Beth Bacon (Digital Book World)

New surveys examining children’s reading habits are creating a buzz over whether or not e-readers negatively affect their reading skills. Are we reading too much into these surveys or do they have valid arguments?