Wiley Publishing: Brands, Digital Innovation, and Educational Services
John Wiley & Sons has evolved from a traditional publisher into a multifaceted global provider of research, education, and professional development. By integrating digital technology with its vast library of print content, the company serves a diverse audience ranging from university students and academic researchers to medical practitioners and financial professionals.
Key Facts
- Diverse Portfolio: Manages renowned brands including For Dummies, Wrox Press, and Sybex.
- Academic Reach: The Wiley Online Library provides access to over 4 million articles and 1,600 journals.
- Open Access Pioneer: Signed a landmark contract with Project DEAL for open access in Germany.
- Educational Tech: Offers WileyPLUS and Wiley Custom Select to modernize classroom learning.
- Strategic Shifts: Recently divested its Online Program Management (OPM) business to Academic Partnerships.
Professional Development and Brand Partnerships
Wiley maintains a robust presence in professional training through a variety of specialized imprints. Its Professional Development brands include For Dummies, Jossey-Bass, Pfeiffer, Wrox Press, J.K. Lasser, Sybex, Fisher Investments Press, and Bloomberg Press.
In the scientific and technical realm, the STMS (Scientific, Technical, and Medical) business operates as Wiley-Blackwell, following the acquisition of Blackwell Publishing in February 2007. This entity manages more than 1,500 journals and The Cochrane Library, while providing publishing services for organizations such as The Physiological Society and the American Cancer Society. Additionally, Wiley co-created CourseSmart, an online retailer specializing in college textbook eBooks.
Financial Risk Management Partnership
In 2016, Wiley partnered with Christian H. Cooper to develop a comprehensive program for candidates pursuing the Financial Risk Manager (FRM) designation from the Global Association of Risk Professionals. Utilizing Wiley's adaptive learning technology and Cooper's legacy book series, the program aims to support tens of thousands of candidates worldwide, mirroring the growth seen in the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation.
Academic Innovation and Open Access
Wiley is actively transitioning toward Open Access (a publishing model where research is freely available to the public). In 2016, a collaboration with Hindawi began to convert nine Wiley journals to full open access, with four more added in 2018. However, this sector has faced challenges; in 2023, over 8,000 fictitious papers were retracted from Hindawi journals, and as of April 2024, approximately 10% of all manuscript submissions received by Wiley are flagged as fictitious.
A significant milestone occurred on January 18, 2019, when Wiley signed a contract with Project DEAL. This agreement enabled open access to academic journals for over 700 institutions, marking the first such contract between a publisher and a leading research nation (Germany).
Higher Education and Digital Learning
To support modern pedagogy, Wiley offers several digital tools designed for instructors and students:
- WileyPLUS: An online platform combining electronic texts with media resources, allowing instructors to manage courses and grade assignments while providing students with real-time hints and text links.
- Wiley Custom Select: Launched in February 2009, this system allows instructors to build custom textbooks by combining content from various Wiley manuals and their own materials.
Expanding its reach into executive education, Wiley collaborated with IIM Lucknow in September 2019 to provide analytics courses specifically for finance executives.
Specialized Professional Services
Medicine and Healthcare
In January 2008, Wiley introduced Essential Evidence Plus (formerly InfoPOEMs with InfoRetriever). This evidence-based medicine (EBM) tool provides primary-care clinicians with point-of-care access to practice guidelines, evidence summaries, and reference materials via desktop computers and handheld devices.
Architecture and Design
Wiley is an accredited AIA continuing education provider. In October 2008, it launched an online service providing Continuing Education Units (CEU) and Professional Development Hour (PDH) credits for architects and designers, adapting content from its existing book catalog.
Online Program Management (OPM)
Wiley expanded significantly into the OPM sector with the $220 million purchase of Deltak in 2011 and the acquisition of The Learning House in 2018. At its peak, Wiley was one of the largest OPM providers, managing over 700 programs across 60 university partners.
Recently, the company shifted its strategy. In June 2023, Wiley announced the divestment of several units, including Wiley University Services. While OPM revenue was $232 million in 2020, full-year revenue for 2023 dropped to $208 million (an 8% decrease). In November 2023, the OPM business was sold to Academic Partnerships for $110 million.
The Wiley Online Library
Launched on August 7, 2010, to replace Wiley Interscience, the Wiley Online Library is a subscription-based digital repository. It utilizes the Literatum platform (developed by Atypon, which Wiley acquired in 2016) to deliver a massive array of content.
| Content Type | Approximate Volume |
|---|---|
| Articles | Over 4 million |
| Journals | 1,600 |
| Books | More than 22,000 |
| Other Resources | Reference works, laboratory protocols, and databases |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Wiley and Wiley-Blackwell?
Wiley-Blackwell is the brand used for the STMS (Scientific, Technical, and Medical) business, formed after Wiley acquired Blackwell Publishing in February 2007.
What is WileyPLUS?
WileyPLUS is an online educational product that integrates electronic textbooks with media resources and management tools for instructors and students to use in a classroom setting.
How has Wiley approached Open Access?
Wiley has collaborated with Hindawi to convert journals to open access and signed a historic agreement with Project DEAL to provide open access to over 700 academic institutions in Germany.
What happened to Wiley's Online Program Management (OPM) business?
After expanding through the acquisition of Deltak and The Learning House, Wiley decided to divest its OPM business, selling it to Academic Partnerships in November 2023 for $110 million.
What is the Wiley Online Library?
It is a subscription-based digital library launched in 2010 that provides access to millions of articles, thousands of books, and various reference works across life, health, physical, and social sciences.