Title: Open publishing is the same as free software
Author: Martin Arnison
Publisher: Matthew Arnison
URL: http://www.purplebark.net/maffew/cat/openpub.html
ABSTRACT
Open publishing has been a response to the various changes of information behavior. Information is supposed to be free but multinationals have created and have been creating ways to profit over its distribution. Apart from not having any advertisements that somehow alter the presentation and the the process by which information is acquired, open publishing gives the opportunity to the society to share their stories and their side of the news.
What I learned
Software is information and information has become expensive. Through years and years, multinational corporations have made it difficult for people to acquire information, in almost all forms. Open Publishing is said to be a solution, and a movement, that gives the right to information back to users.
Keeping information accessible has been the job of librarians. One example of a collaborative movement to publish is Wikipedia. You can upload information, and publish it while other members or account holders can edit the information if ever there is a need to. According to Arnison, Microsoft sees this as a problem since they pay billions of dollars to keep information secret and out of public access. Moreover, Arnison thinks that these kinds of corporations assume that their users are stupid. these corporations operate on the fact that the users are not creative and innovative enough. This is a mistake of media corporations which they are now getting a glimpse of.
Indymedia is an example of an open publishing movement. It started when activists were ignored by media in the 90s when an organized mobilization was made against the Vietnam war 30 years earlier, and perhaps other issues. In response to this, a group of programmers devised a a dynamic content system that would enable the activists to bring their movement to the world and make the world know that the government is trying to filter a mass movement. The system also enabled the activists to post text, articles. comments without censorship. One is able to hide content somehow, but is not able to delete them.
One may think that the voluminous amounts of information that may need to be revised or proofread or even verified can be an issue. Eric Raymond, of ISOC-IL, sees this as a quick fix. If information is freely published, people will have access to it; and when there's something wrong, the author will automatically know because readers have the freedom to correct the author. In the event, the author can quickly fix the issue. If one would examine the system of users doing the verification and "quality assurance" of some sort, it would seem that open publishing treats users of equal importance and skill as the authors. the user is empowered and this would build the confidence of users to publish more competitive material for public consumption.
Reflections
I do think that the best feature of open publishing is the empowerment of users, and treating them as of the same status with the author of information. This can however be a drawback as well. This is not a perfect world and it is rather unlikely that no man will not attempt something evil in this kind of freedom provided. If we look at the system as empowering, it can definitely empower not just the better users, but also the bad tomatoes out there. As an information professional, one must be able to provide careful and vigilant watch over these types of systems. Users, in the event of empowerment should also do the same. There is still some room for improvement in open publishing, but definitely it is something that librarians should take a look at. Having this type of system in a library set-up, especially in libraries who cater to students would help libraries empower students and prepare them to be more vigilant in acquiring, accepting and using information. This would entail careful bibliographic literacy training but it is some burden which will be most worthy to undertake.
References
Electronic sources
Arnison, Martin. (2001).Open publishing is the same as free software. Retrieved October 1, 2012, from http://www.purplebark.net/maffew/cat/openpub.html
Raymond, Eric. The cathedral and the bazaar. ISOC Online Magazine. Retrieved September 12, 2012, from http://www.isoc.org.il/magazine/magazine3_8.html
West, Guy. (2000). Publishing/ journalism open. Retrieved September 20, 2012, from http://www.cybered.org/open_jur.html
Publisher: Matthew Arnison
URL: http://www.purplebark.net/maffew/cat/openpub.html
ABSTRACT
Open publishing has been a response to the various changes of information behavior. Information is supposed to be free but multinationals have created and have been creating ways to profit over its distribution. Apart from not having any advertisements that somehow alter the presentation and the the process by which information is acquired, open publishing gives the opportunity to the society to share their stories and their side of the news.
What I learned
Software is information and information has become expensive. Through years and years, multinational corporations have made it difficult for people to acquire information, in almost all forms. Open Publishing is said to be a solution, and a movement, that gives the right to information back to users.
Keeping information accessible has been the job of librarians. One example of a collaborative movement to publish is Wikipedia. You can upload information, and publish it while other members or account holders can edit the information if ever there is a need to. According to Arnison, Microsoft sees this as a problem since they pay billions of dollars to keep information secret and out of public access. Moreover, Arnison thinks that these kinds of corporations assume that their users are stupid. these corporations operate on the fact that the users are not creative and innovative enough. This is a mistake of media corporations which they are now getting a glimpse of.
Indymedia is an example of an open publishing movement. It started when activists were ignored by media in the 90s when an organized mobilization was made against the Vietnam war 30 years earlier, and perhaps other issues. In response to this, a group of programmers devised a a dynamic content system that would enable the activists to bring their movement to the world and make the world know that the government is trying to filter a mass movement. The system also enabled the activists to post text, articles. comments without censorship. One is able to hide content somehow, but is not able to delete them.
One may think that the voluminous amounts of information that may need to be revised or proofread or even verified can be an issue. Eric Raymond, of ISOC-IL, sees this as a quick fix. If information is freely published, people will have access to it; and when there's something wrong, the author will automatically know because readers have the freedom to correct the author. In the event, the author can quickly fix the issue. If one would examine the system of users doing the verification and "quality assurance" of some sort, it would seem that open publishing treats users of equal importance and skill as the authors. the user is empowered and this would build the confidence of users to publish more competitive material for public consumption.
Reflections
I do think that the best feature of open publishing is the empowerment of users, and treating them as of the same status with the author of information. This can however be a drawback as well. This is not a perfect world and it is rather unlikely that no man will not attempt something evil in this kind of freedom provided. If we look at the system as empowering, it can definitely empower not just the better users, but also the bad tomatoes out there. As an information professional, one must be able to provide careful and vigilant watch over these types of systems. Users, in the event of empowerment should also do the same. There is still some room for improvement in open publishing, but definitely it is something that librarians should take a look at. Having this type of system in a library set-up, especially in libraries who cater to students would help libraries empower students and prepare them to be more vigilant in acquiring, accepting and using information. This would entail careful bibliographic literacy training but it is some burden which will be most worthy to undertake.
References
Electronic sources
Arnison, Martin. (2001).Open publishing is the same as free software. Retrieved October 1, 2012, from http://www.purplebark.net/maffew/cat/openpub.html
Raymond, Eric. The cathedral and the bazaar. ISOC Online Magazine. Retrieved September 12, 2012, from http://www.isoc.org.il/magazine/magazine3_8.html
West, Guy. (2000). Publishing/ journalism open. Retrieved September 20, 2012, from http://www.cybered.org/open_jur.html
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