Reed Elsevier to stop funding arms trade shows

(via biocurious)

I don't know if you remember the news item that Reed Elsevier, publisher of many scientific journals, was funding arms trade shows. It got to the point that the editorial board of the Lancet, which is owned by Elsevier, agreed with researchers who wanted to boycott their own publication. Well it looks like Reed Elsevier has changed its policies:

Reed Elsevier announced today that it is to exit the defence exhibitions sector. This portfolio of five shows is part of Reed Elsevier's global Business division and represents around 0.5% of group annual turnover.

Sir Crispin Davis, Chief Executive Officer of Reed Elsevier, said :

"Our defence shows are quality businesses which have performed well in recent years. Nonetheless, it has become increasingly clear that growing numbers of important customers and authors have very real concerns about our involvement in the defence exhibitions business.

"We have listened closely to these concerns and this has led us to conclude that the defence shows are no longer compatible with Reed Elsevier's position as a leading publisher of scientific, medical, legal and business content."

Reed Elsevier intends to complete its withdrawal during the second half of 2007, subject to honouring its obligations to partners, customers and other key stakeholders.

See posts by GrrrlScientist and John Wilkins.