Maybe you do not read the NY Times, but I am guessing this editorial will catch the attention of many either directly or because the article has been passed on via social media.
I am an academic. The Times editorial is complaining about people like me. Actually, I am probably not a good example as I do blog (since 2002) and make an effort to communicate with practitioners of my discipline (educators interested in having their students use technology). However, I also agree that academics need to do more than try to impress each other or a funding source.
Research is important, but too often it seems to go no where. Academics will suggest that “basic research” is essential. I agree – practical applications build off basic research and when practitioners in R&D do R, they do not invest time and resources in basic science. Still, academics encouraged by evaluation systems that count publications rather than meaningful contributions can become mired in work that allows them to spend most of their time writing up results rather than manipulating real world variables that matter. Survey research obviously annoys me as do simplistic publication counting systems. Such are the foci of second tier institutions and programs.
Just so you not think I am anti research, I am a defender of this university commitment. Some meaningful discoveries do occur. The public likely does not appreciate the professional development and instructional benefits of research. Faculty members should not be educators teaching from books, but practitioners of their discipline. Students are also frequently involved in research activities and such projects encourage a different way of thinking about content.
What would I change? Once tenured, I think faculty members should be able to describe what their work has accomplished. What problems have they solved or at least what progress have they made? Is there a direction in what they are doing? I think some effort at application is important and should be rewarded over continued efforts at what may or may not be trivial. If you take on the challenge of showing your ideas matter, you do not depend on others to discover the significance in what you do.
Writing for the public is a contribution, but again I am not a fan of those who can do nothing else. The individual best in a position to explain is the individual invested in the scholarship. We need individuals who will take responsibility to be scholars and who understand the job is not done until some effort is made to communicate the value of their work to anyone who will listen.