On June 27, 2007, after conversations with numerous people, I launched a new online, open access journal called Manifestation: Journal of community-engaged research and learning partnerships. 

Journals are a core part of knowledge mobilization within the academic community.  Given the interest and demand for something related to community-university, community-based, action-research, I thought it would be a no-brainer to get something going using open access formatting.  Well, today, I pulled the plug.

Here is what I have learned:

1. 1)The challenge is not starting something it is maintaining it over time.
   

2. 2)Just because people say they want something doesn’t mean they will work at supporting it.
   

3. 3)Money is hard to come by during a recession.  Doubly so when the people who could support an initiative are being cut - their resources always go to their core businesses.
   

4. 4)Just because you use open-access formats doesn’t mean it is free.  Time, travel. meeting, hosting, computers, and so on, all cost money.  In this case, I spent about $14k over a 2 year period - with no return.
   

5. 5)Many academics are too stressed and too focused on getting tenure.
   

This has been an important experiment and one that I have learned from but one that I will not be willing to jump into so readily anytime soon.

Thanks to all who participated - it was good to meet you.

Peter