Traditional qualities

I was naturally pleased that my use of non-traditional research and dissemination methods saw me branded a maverick in your article "Seriously fresh" (5 February). But I would like to clarify that I do not reject all conventional forms of publishing.

I write books, and think that the book, which enables a thorough exploration of ideas, is of the highest value in the arts and social sciences. My quoted comments about journal articles still stand, though: compared with articles, my experience is that books have a bigger audience, are subject to less pointless editorial intervention and come out quicker.

David Gauntlett, Professor of media and communications, University of Westminster.