The democratization of ideas is a really wonderful thing. You have more people from more diverse points of view contributing to the world’s body of knowledge. But of course – and all publishers recognize this – it also creates a huge problem for the consumer of ideas.
Interview with Paul Michelman
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MIT Sloan Management Review has used its Frontiers section to explore the organizational issues of our time, from the rise of the robots to the surprising ways that humans remain more powerful than any technology. Recently, MIT Sloan Management Review and MIT Press inaugurated two book series that will advance the digital transformation conversation in important new directions.
As editor-in-chief at MIT Sloan Management Review as well as for the two lines of books, Paul Michelman is at the center of the digital discussion.
“From the dawn of the web, publishing has been disrupted from all corners,” he tells CCC’s Chris Kenneally.
“In many respects, the democratization of ideas is a really wonderful thing. You have more people from more diverse points of view contributing to the world’s body of knowledge. But of course – and all publishers recognize this – it also creates a huge problem for the consumer of ideas.
“How do you determine what ideas are credible and what are not? What are the guideposts or the signposts available to you to figure out what you should be spending your time on? We think that our role has never been more important in that respect. With a brand like MIT and MIT Sloan, we have a hugely important role to play in helping people figure out which ideas are worth spending time on and which are worth spending less time on.
“At the same time, the business we’re in is really tough. Traditional sources of revenue are drying up. We’re always having to reinvent the business in order to fulfill our mission, which is to continue to help people to improve the practice of business. So, we’re right in the middle of it.”
