Tutor: Merlin Fox, Associate Publisher, Books, Royal Society of Chemistry

Discover the journey of a book — from idea to finished publication.

Aimed at anyone new to book publishing or considering a career in the industry, How Books Work offers a comprehensive introduction to the publishing process. You’ll follow the lifecycle of a book from its initial concept through to publication and beyond, gaining insight into the people, decisions, and systems that bring books to life.

The course is divided into four engaging modules:

• Books in the 21st Century – explore the landscape of modern publishing, including key players, business models, and emerging trends.
• Content Acquisition and Development – learn how ideas are sourced, shaped, and prepared for publication.
• In-house: Putting it Together - understand the workflows and roles involved in turning a manuscript into a finished product.
• Publication and Beyond - discover what happens once a book is published, from marketing and metadata to sales and distribution.

Each module is designed to take approximately one hour, and includes a rich mix of videos, slides, flashcards, and reflection prompts, along with mid-section and end-of-section quizzes to test your understanding. A final quiz at the end of the course ties everything together.

As an On-Demand course, you can learn at your own pace — access is available for six months after registration, allowing you to revisit materials whenever you like.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, you will be able to:

• Understand key terms, models and current trends in the book publishing industry
• Appreciate the importance of metadata in the book supply chain
• Understand the full lifecycle of a scholarly book
• Apply knowledge of the production options available to publish books
• Recognise the value different roles in publishing add to scholarly works

Tutor Profile

Merlin’s publishing career began in 2004 when he joined the Royal Society of Chemistry as a journal assistant editor. Between 2006 and 2014 he was a commissioning editor for the RSC’s books programme. As a senior commissioning editor, he later worked on books for World Scientific and Artech House. Since returning to the RSC in 2022 as Associate Publisher, Merlin has established a new concise book model and developed RSC’s open access books policy. Merlin was a co-tutor for ALPSP’s Commissioning Content course for many years, and a guest lecturer for Publishing Masters courses at UCL and Anglia Ruskin University. Before publishing, Merlin was research scientist; he has a PhD in Agricultural Science from University of Bristol and an MSc in Applied Environmental Science from Imperial.

Tutor: Randy Townsend, Inaugural Editor-in-Chief, GW Journal of Ethics in Publishing

In today’s publishing landscape, the ability to navigate ethical challenges is as essential as mastering editorial or marketing skills. “An Ethics Blueprint for Publishing Professionals” is a practical, thought-provoking online course designed for early career professionals who want to build a strong ethical foundation for their work in books, journals, and digital media.

Guided by Randy Townsend, you’ll learn how to recognize and address common ethical dilemmas in publishing—ranging from conflicts of interest and plagiarism to issues of inclusivity, transparency, and responsibility to readers and authors. You’ll also gain insight into the evolving role of AI in shaping publishing culture, and how ethical decision-making strengthens trust, credibility, and long-term success in the field.

Whether you’re in editorial, production, marketing, or rights management, this course equips you with the ethical awareness and tools to thrive in your career—and to contribute meaningfully to a publishing industry that values integrity as much as innovation.

This course utilises videos, quizzes, downloadable documents, and interactive content to provide a comprehensive and engaging syllabus, which is comprised of four modules: 

• Peer Review Ethics and Editorial Responsibility
• Plagiarism, Fabrication, Falsification, and Conflicts of Interest
• Policy Clarity and Transparent Dispute Resolution
• AI and Innovation in Ethical Publishing

Each module is designed to take approximately one hour, but with the content broken down into handy, bite-sized chunks, this allows you to complete it in your own time and at a pace that suits you. 

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, you will be able to: 

1. Define and explain core concepts in publishing ethics, including plagiarism, fabrication, falsification, conflicts of interest, data integrity, bias, spin, and image manipulation.
   
2. Apply best practices in peer review, emphasizing confidentiality, constructive feedback, and identification of predatory publishing practices.
   
3. Analyze and address ethical challenges in policy clarity, dispute resolution, authorship, helicopter research, and misconduct allegations.
   
4. Evaluate the role of AI and emerging technologies in scholarly publishing for transparency, workflow impact, and policy compliance.
   
5. Mitigate risks of AI misuse, such as hallucinations, bias, and policy gaps, through structured oversight and quality controls. 
   
6. Promote trust and accountability in scholarly publishing by integrating ethics, responsible innovation, and fair evaluation practices

Tutor Profile

Professor Randy Townsend is a visionary leader who transforms organizational goals into powerful, actionable strategies that drive collaboration, success, and integrity. With nearly two decades of expertise, Randy has been at the forefront of policy innovation and publishing strategy, setting new standards for responsible publishing practices and research integrity. He is a sought-after speaker, author, and collaborator.

During his term as President of the Society for Scholarly Publishing (SSP), Randy ignited a groundbreaking mental health awareness movement that resonated across the entire industry. His leadership extends to influential roles with the Council of Science Editors and the AM&P Network’s Association Council, where he has championed ethical standards and shaped the future of scholarly communication.

A champion of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA), Randy has co-chaired pivotal DEIA committees for both the AM&P Network and SSP, and actively contributes to C4DISC. His annual course on Creating an Inclusive Culture for ALPSP empowers organizations to foster environments where everyone thrives.

As the founding Editor-in-Chief of the award-winning GW Journal of Ethics in Publishing, Randy is dedicated to promoting research integrity and nurturing the next generation of leaders committed to ethical publishing. In addition, he serves as an Associate Professor in George Washington University’s #1-ranked Master of Professional Studies in Publishing Program, where he continues to inspire and shape the future of publishing.

Most recently, Randy has been named a Chef for The Scholarly Kitchen, the prominent scholarly communications blog central to the most important industry discussions.

Tutor: Nancy Roberts, Head of Content & Technology Division, Maverick Publishing Specialists

Ideal for those who are new to the publishing industry, as well as those looking to develop their understanding of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility and its importance in the publishing sector.

This course utilises videos, quizzes, downloadable documents, and interactive content to provide a comprehensive and engaging syllabus, which is comprised of four modules:

• Introduction to DEI: What it is and Why it Matters
• Understanding Bias and Discrimination
• Getting Involved: The Role of Employee Resource Groups
• Diversifying the Publishing Process

Each module is designed to take approximately one hour, but with the content broken down into handy, bite-sized chunks, this allows you to complete it in your own time and at a pace that suits you.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, you will be able to:

• Articulate why diversity and inclusion matters
• Challenge inappropriate behaviour at work confidently
• Create a compelling business case for diversity initiatives in your organization
• Participate in an ERG effectively
• Contribute to the inclusive design of publishing platforms and products

Tutor Profile

Nancy has worked in publishing for over 25 years in a variety of production and operations roles, including running global operations for the Academic business at Cambridge University Press. She is Head of Content & Technology Division at Maverick, providing specialist consultancy to scholarly publishers, societies and associations, and also works freelance as a trainer. She has a PhD in Postcolonial Feminist Literary Theory and Executive MBA from Cranfield University.

Tutor: Simon Linacre, Head of Content, Brand & Press, Digital Science

An essential course covering the core aspects of journals publishing for those seeking to develop a career in academic journal publishing. Designed as a follow up to the ALPSP’s ‘How Journals Work’ introductory course (though this is not an essential prerequisite).

The On-Demand version of this course covers four modules:

• Introduction, IP and Publication Ethics
• Publishing Platforms and Open Access
• Product and Marketing
• Financials and the Evolution of Journal Publishing

Each module is designed to take approximately one hour, but these can be completed in your own time and at a pace that suits you.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

• Assess, analyse and improve processes and operations of a journal in different environments, from submission to publication
• Build awareness of contemporary journals and platforms, and which are suited to which markets 
• Engage with and debate in current events and development in modern publishing (within the UK and globally)
• Navigate the core threats and opportunities which face journal publishers
• Understand product development road maps and strategy, including AGILE methodology

Tutor Biography

Tutor: Simon Linacre, Head of Content, Brand & Press, Digital Science

Designed for those starting their careers in academic journal publishing. Providing delegates with an understanding of Open Access, what makes a successful journal, finance and business models, as well as the basics of marketing and product development.

The On-Demand version of this course covers four modules:

• Journals & Publishers
• Authors, Editors, & Publishing Models
• Understanding Open Access
• Measures of Success

Each module is designed to take approximately one hour, but these can be completed in your own time and at a pace that suits you.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

• Understand key terms, models and new developments in and around the scholarly publishing industry
• Identify what success criteria can be applied to journals by those currently working in academic publishing
• Analyse and manage finances in both open access and subscription-based journals
• Apply knowledge of channels and metrics to successfully market your journal to the right audiences
• Improve overall work quality and efficiency

Tutor Biography