2019 is winding down, and that means it’s time for our annual list of next year’s journal publishing conferences. Planning ahead to attend or participate in a publishing conference or two is an important component of your yearly calendar.
As you plan, be clear on your objectives. Major publishing meetings have an overarching theme and much of the content supports that theme. Check the links to the events to identify specific topics or tracks that you don’t want to miss.
Is networking an important goal for you and your organization when you attend an event? Many conferences now provide free conference apps that connect you to other registrants, allowing you to reach out and set up chats, meetings, etc. or make plans to catch up with colleagues prior to the event.
The following list highlights some of the major publishing conferences for 2020.
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When: Check website for dates
Where: Washington, D.C.
Who: Academic, independent, and professional publishers as well as librarians and educators
Why: The PSP Annual Conference focuses on copyright, law, policy, and business practices that affect professional and scholarly publishers in the United States.
When: March 10-12, 2020
Where: London
Who: People from all sectors of the publishing industry. The London Book Fair has a special area devoted to academic, scholarly, and STM publishing
Why: The London Book Fair is the global marketplace for rights negotiation and the sale and distribution of content across print, audio, TV, film, and digital channels.
Journal Article Tag Suite Conference (JATS-Con)
When: April 28-29, 2020
Where: Bethesda, MD
Who: Scholarly, independent, and professional publishers, as well as others interested in journal tagging standards
Why: Gather with others who work with the NISO JATS project for all the latest on XML tagging standards.
When: April 28-30, 2020
Where: Washington, D.C.
Who: Academic and professional authors and publishers, as well as members of societies, nonprofits, and the research community
Why: Exchange ideas and information in areas such as copyright, technology developments, and end-user and library relations.
Council of Science Editors (CSE) Annual Meeting
When: May 2-5, 2020
Where: Portland, OR
Who: Editorial professionals publishing in the sciences
Why: Exchange ideas and information in areas such as copyright, technology developments, and end-user and library relations.
Society for Scholarly Publishing (SSP) Annual Meeting
When: May 27-29, 2020
Where: Boston, MA
Who: Scholarly publishers, librarians, printers, editors, academics, and more
Why: Professionals in the scholarly publishing field meet to discuss challenges and opportunities, as well as how to best serve the industry sector’s mission of publishing and distributing quality content.
Association of American University Presses
When: June 13-15, 2020
Where: Seattle, WA
Who: Cross-discipline University Press colleagues
Why: Get together at this annual event to share information, experiences, and ideas to deal with stakeholders in the ever-changing world of academic publishing.
Association Media and Publishing (AM&P) Annual Meeting
When: June 24-26, 2020
Where: Washington, D.C.
Who: Nonprofit print and digital publishers, as well as marketing, communication, and media professionals
Why: Share insights on the latest communication trends and marketing techniques in association publishing while networking and establishing connections with exhibitors, peers, and colleagues.
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American Library Association Annual Conference
When: June 25-30, 2020
Where: Chicago, IL
Who: Librarians, authors, publishers, business professionals, educators, and others dedicated to children’s libraries and services
Why: Leaders with a shared passion for library access for children and underprivileged families gather with others passionate about books, libraries, and shaping the industry’s future.
International Society of Managing and Technical Editors (ISMTE)
When: August 6-7, 2020
Where: Chicago, IL
Who: Office staff members who drive technical and professional editorial publishing processes in the fields of science, academics, technology, and medicine
Why: Editorial office staff attendees and session leaders will network and train as they discuss publishing trends and best practices, as well as new products, services, and technologies to help them and others in their editorial offices work faster and smarter.
The Association of Learned & Professional Society Publishers
When: September 16-18, 2020
Where: Manchester, U.K.
Who: Scholarly and professional publishers in nonprofit organizations and institutions
Why: Share information and knowledge, learn about new initiatives, connect, and engage in open discussion on the challenges and opportunities facing international publishers today.
Open Access Scholarly Publishers Association
When: Fall 2020; check website for dates
Where: check website for location
Who: Global open access publishers in the scientific, technical, and scholarly fields
Why: Members meet to exchange information about open-access ideas, experiences, standards, best practices, and business models, as well as promote the open-access agenda.
When: October 14-18, 2020
Where: Frankfurt, Germany
Who: People from all areas of media publishing, writers, and cultural enthusiasts from all over the world
Why: The world’s most important fair for the print and digital content business, as well as an outstanding social and cultural event. Attendees network, exchange ideas, make decisions, get inspired, and join together in celebration.
When: Fall 2020; check website for dates
Where: Charleston, SC
Who: Librarians, publishers, consultants, and vendors
Why: Open to everyone as those involved in scholarly publishing, CEOs, librarians, and more come together to casually discuss issues of importance to all involved in scholarly publishing to find solutions to their publishing problems.
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Publishing conferences can provide immense value, but make sure you do your research before attending. Verify that the conference is being hosted by a reputable organization and the program is aligned with your publishing goals. The list above is a good place to start.
