Eurozine has reprinted an essay on the benefits and downfalls of open access (particularly in relation to developing nations), written by Jorge L. Contreras. The Eurozine reprint is a condensed version of the full essay, which was published by St Antony’s International Review and can be found here.

Contreras elaborates on the various models of open access journals, such as ‘gold’ and ‘green’. The former is characterised by content that is freely available online, though authors are charged a publication fee. The latter encourages researchers to post versions of their published essays on academic or self-archiving sites, free of charge and available to all.

The various strategies and implications of ‘green’ open access publishing for media studies is an interesting topic to explore in relation to our upcoming ‘green’ issue (Spring 2013). We invite submissions on that subject as well as other related areas. NECSUS_European Journal of Media Studies remains committed to a true open access publishing model, in which our content is free and available to all online, with no publication fees charged to our authors.