Open publishing is a term used by Matthew Arnison in March 2001 to describe the online process of creating text, audio and video news by methods that are fully transparent to the readers.
Internet sites run on open publishing software allow anyone with Internet access to visit the site and upload content directly without having to penetrate the filters of traditional media.
Several fundamental principles tend to inform the organizations and sites dedicated to open publishing, though they do so to varying degrees.
These principles include non-hierarchy, public participation, minimal editorial control, and transparency.
Given a large enough audience of peers, readers and/or commentators, supporters of open publishing hope or expect that almost all problematic content will quickly be noticed, highlighted and fixed.