1. CACM: Past, Present, and Future Moshe Y. Vardi Rice University

2. The Past: Great Research Journal R.L. Rivest, A. Shamir, L. M. Adleman: A Method for Obtaining Digital Signatures and Public-Key Cryptosystems. CACM 21(2): 120-126 (1978) R.A. Demillo, R.J.Lipton, A.J. Perlis: Social processes and proofs of theorems and programs. CACM 22(5): 271-280 (1979).

3. The 1980s Redesign: Journal to Magazine Huge backlog (12-18 months) Transactions series initiated Growing numbers of practitioner members

4. The 1980s Redesign: Satisfy Everyone Regular columns News analysis Hot technologies Interviews Case studies Tutorials Research articles: mainly MIS

5. The 1990s Redesign: Further Magazination Shorter articles Stronger focus on applications More responsibility to professional staff

6. Why Another Redesign? Pervasive dissatisfaction with current CACM Current design over 20-year old Evolving membership Internet, WWW, Digital Library Queue (2003)

7. Proposed New Design 2005 Task Force Options: –Minor change –Fully professional magazine (a la IEEE Spectrum) –ACMs Science Preferred: Science

8. The Science Model Extensive news section Premier research journal Perspectives (scientific or news) Other features (book reviews, policy, education, etc.) 51 issues per year, staff of 100.

9. CACM as A Research Journal? No! –CS research is conference driven –Journal review process problematic Solution: Best of Best section with perspectives.

10. A New CACM? News Columns Computing Practices Best of Best (w. perspectives)

11. Questions Is Best of Best idea viable? Can CACM be all things to all people? Can/should ACM have a flagship publication?

12. Why I like Best of Best Fight fragmentation of CS Unlike JACM: be conference driven Prestige to selected articles Prestige to CACM

13. Next Steps This discussion Three focus groups (Feb. 12- NYC, Mar. 16 – Palo Alto, Mar. 23- London) Goal: Content and business models Deadline: Early June – Council Meeting