Jill Torigian is the President and sole owner of Multimed Inc., an international publishing and project development corporation, founded in 1980. With over 33 years of scholarly publishing experience, Jill provides executive leadership and business development for a diverse set of loyal clients, whose journals and associations have contributed to an invaluable exchange of scientific knowledge and research throughout the world. With an uncompromised focus on client needs, predicated on a foundation of integrity and purpose, Multimed’s results-driven deliverables are a testament to the loyalty and relationships enjoyed amongst a longstanding client list. A combination of both innovative practices and a commitment to continuous improvement has helped Multimed evolve in a field of highly competitive multinationals.
On PKP’s 25th Anniversary, Torigian shares her reflections on the importance of Open Access and Multimed’s experience working with PKP Publishing Services:
Multimed’s mission
With a clear sense that traditional publishing models were at risk through the limitations of subscription-accessible research, Multimed positioned itself at the forefront of online publishing and the Open Access Movement, and successfully steered its way into a new publishing model utilizing Open Journal Systems (OJS). Enriched by a team of dedicated professionals, and who are still with Multimed today, the open access peer-reviewed publishing model was successfully launched in 2003, with the publication of the Journal of Applied Clinical and Medical Physics (JACMP), championed by the Journal’s Editor-in-Chief, Michael D. Mills. The Public Knowledge Project (PKP) was the Publishing Services of choice and remains so for all Multimed clients.
Streamlining workflow, reducing costs, maintaining high-quality publishing practices, and increasing value for societies and associations remains one of Multimed’s core principles two decades later.
IJTMB & Multimed Timeline by Multimed Inc.
The meaning of Open Access
Multimed recognizes that open access removes barriers to research and knowledge, and OJS is an equitable publishing platform to accomplish this. The benefits of the open access movement are still being realized 25 years later. Today, an ever-expanding set of communities worldwide can have immediate access to essential information, combined with fewer copyright restrictions and licensing barriers. This is a direct result of the continued investments that PKP has made in Publishing Services, strengthening the foundation of a system while improving the submission experience and management of papers and the peer review module for all Multimed clients. Simply put, open access is synonymous with fairness, equality, and inclusion.
Working with PKP Publishing services
OJS covers all aspects of online journal publishing and provides Multimed’s clients with both a feature-rich peer review management system and a publication platform at a cost-effective price. Through the regular release of upgrades, the PKP team continues to deliver versions of the software with enhanced functionality and features, in addition to overall improvements in user friendliness and performance. The PKP team welcomes and actively encourages community feedback, and Multimed is excited to see how the software develops in the coming years.
Multimed truly values the expertise and responsiveness of the PKP Publishing Services Team, which helps us to continuously provide a high level of service to our clients. Through key strategic partners and internal knowledgebase, the team continues to stay at the forefront of publishing standards, advancements, and policies and ensures these are reflected in the OJS system and/or communicated to their clients.
Positive changes over the years
Every journal is unique—from operations to policies to funding models—and Multimed strives to meet the needs and requirements of each client. The PKP team has been an instrumental collaborator in ensuring the unique needs of Multimed’s clients are met through OJS. This includes:
Banner Advertising with Google Ad Manager Integration
Gated and Non-Gated Advertising to Meet Requirements of Regulatory Bodies
Custom Export and Reporting Tools
Custom Journal Categories
Member vs. Non-Member Author Fees
OJS also continues to support alternative funding models and develop the necessary tools to help non-profit organizations cover publishing and administrative-related costs for their journals, including Author Fees, Pay Per View Access, and Subscription Models.
And above all, the upgrade from OJS 2 to 3 brought forward significant changes and improvements to the system’s Editorial workflow and reader interface. IJTMB was the first of Multimed’s publications to upgrade to the new platform.
In addition to the OJS system, the PKP team continues to develop and strengthen their support and service offerings. There have been many positive changes throughout the years. Those that have been most impactful to Multimed include the implementation of a ticketing system to streamline support and custom development requests, growing the team of knowledgeable experts, and the development of the visual guide and supporting documentation for OJS.
The PKP|PS team
Multimed has received excellent service from all members of the PKP Publishing Services team. Most notably, the PKP Publishing services went above and beyond during the transition from OJS 2 to OJS 3. As with most publishers and journals, the switch seemed like a daunting task. However, the PKP team was there every step of the way from initial training to the review of system requirements and transfer of custom developments, to troubleshooting and all the way to launch. The support and guidance received during this transition from the PKP Publishing Services team were critical to the successful transition of all the publications that Multimed serves.
The collaborative nature of the PKP Publishing Services team continues to help Multimed expand the list of features available to our clients that will assist with their publishing processes and workflows.
The Future
As we look to the future, the IJTMB seeks to broaden our reach by diversifying the types of scholarly work we publish. To date, we have primarily received research articles and case studies. We have noted that there are opportunities for MT practitioners and educators to share their practices (Kennedy, 2021). The global COVID-19 pandemic created many innovations that have yet to be shared and built upon.
Amanda Baskwill, PhD, RMT Executive Editor, IJTMB
Read Amanda Baskwill’s reflections about IJTMB’s past, present, and future on its journal showcase.
References
Kennedy, A. B. (2021). Trends of Publication in the Education and Practice Sections of the IJTMB: A Call to Action. International Journal of Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork, 14(2), 1-4. https://doi.org/10.3822/ijtmb.v14i2.657
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