1 About the FAO Publishing Policy
This document provides high-level guidance on how to decide what knowledge products your division or office will produce, and how to develop a publishing plan. It is aimed at Editorial Committees, directors of divisions or offices, and Unit Publications Coordinators (UPCs) involved in the creation or approval of a publishing plan.
Follow this policy will ensure that publishing plans:
- align with the communication objectives of the Organization;
- are driven by the priorities laid out in the Strategic Framework;
- maintain high standards of content and editorial quality;
- optimize resources;
- find new avenues of collaboration; and
- avoid duplication of effort and content.
An Editorial Committee may be set up for a division or office, a specific project or a cross-cutting theme (e.g. COVID-19) to ensure objectivity and quality. A generic terms of reference (TOR) template for an Editorial Committee can be found here;a this template can be adapted as needed. The TOR should include the composition of the Editorial Committee, responsibilities of members, and frequency of meetings. Once a committee is created, the Publications Board should be informed (publications-board@fao.org). Note that the list of Editorial Committees is available on the Publications Board SharePoint site.
1.1 Digital-first publishing
FAO's digital-first publishing approach calls for optimizing the production of knowledge products for delivery via responsive digital channels rather than the page-oriented print channel.
The digital-first approach requires rethinking both the layout and the content of a publication. The layout should be naturally responsive and adapt easily to every screen, which implies a fluid design that is not constrained by strict formatting rules. The content should offer concise information, short paragraphs, and easily identifiable key messages supported by strong visual elements that reinforce the meaning of the content.
FAO's digital-first publishing approach has three broad objectives:
- Increase the impact of FAO publications through thoughtful audience identification, easier access to the content, and better monitoring of the usage.
- Print less while effectively reaching target audiences and maintaining the integrity and credibility of FAO’s published knowledge.
- Be agile and adapt to users’ needs.
