Transforming Society ~ Why we need an impact-based publishing model

In a world facing a complex web of global crises – rising inequality, climate breakdown, political unrest – the way we share knowledge has never been more important.

Yet academic publishing is still too often judged by narrow metrics: citation counts, impact factors, sales figures. These benchmarks can tell us something about academic performance or market reach, but they fall short when it comes to measuring what should be at the heart of all scholarly communication: real-world impact.

At Bristol University Press, we believe it’s time for a shift. Not just in what we publish, but in how we define and measure impact. We have always championed research that matters. Now, we are further strengthening our commitment to an impact-led publishing model – one rooted in purpose, equity and accessibility. Our inaugural Impact Report outlines how an impact-based publishing model – rooted in purpose, equity and accessibility – can meet the needs of both global scholarship and global society.

Beyond metrics: Publishing that meets the moment

In 2015, the UN introduced 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a blueprint to tackle the world’s most urgent social, environmental and economic challenges. These goals are ambitious, but critical to building a road map out of current global crises and ensuring a better future for us all. While progress depends on policy, investment and activism, there’s another essential element that often gets overlooked: access to trusted knowledge. That’s where academic publishing comes in.

In 2024, more than two-thirds of the work we published directly engaged with the SDGs. From gender inequality and poverty to sustainable cities and justice reform, our authors are addressing real-world issues that affect millions. Our job is to make sure this peer-reviewed research doesn’t stay buried in academic journals or locked behind paywalls – but instead reaches the people who can use it to inform evidence-based policy, combat misinformation and make a real difference in the world.

Real impact, not just numbers

We saw this approach in action last year:

These are more than anecdotes. They are examples of what publishing can do when it’s aligned with purpose.

Open, inclusive and fair

Impact isn’t only about what we publish. It’s also about who gets to participate, and who gets to access the knowledge.

Here’s what we’re doing to level the playing field:

• We waive Article Processing Charges (APCs) for authors based in the Global South, and partner with Research4Life to expand access in low- and middle-income countries.
• We launched the Global Social Challenges Journal – fully open access with no author fees – with nearly 40 per cent of contributions from authors in the Global South.
• We expanded our multilingual publishing to reach non-English speakers and uplift marginalised communities.
• We developed equitable citation practices to spotlight underrepresented scholars and bring more diverse voices into academic conversations.
• We’re improving accessibility for readers with visual impairments, learning differences and other barriers through partnerships with RNIB Bookshare and the Accessible Books Consortium.

Rethinking what success looks like

Impact-based publishing invites us to ask different questions:

Not: How many times was it cited?
But: Whose perspective did it amplify?

Not: How many copies were sold?
But: Did it shift policy, or change someone’s thinking?

Not: Is it trending?
But: Is it transformative?

This approach doesn’t reject metrics – it reframes them. It challenges publishers to measure success in terms of societal change, not just consumption.

Looking ahead

We’re proud of the progress captured in our Impact Report — but we’re not stopping here. With only 17 per cent of the SDGs on track globally, the urgency is clear. Publishing has a role to play, not just as a gatekeeper of ideas, but as an agent of change.

In the coming year, we’ll be:

• expanding our SDG-focused collections;
• launching new policy briefings and author-led events;
• supporting Early Career Researchers and those based in the Global South with publication skills training, translation and mentorship programmes;
• pushing for even more open access to knowledge that matters.

Because publishing isn’t neutral. It never was. And right now, the world doesn’t just need more information. It needs transformation.

Explore the full Impact Report here.

Katie Foxall is Global Engagement Coordinator at Bristol University Press.

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The views and opinions expressed on this blog site are solely those of the original blog post authors and other contributors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of the Bristol University Press and/or any/all contributors to this site.

Image: Ian Schneider on Unsplash