Looking Ahead to the Next 75 Years for The Journal of Pediatrics and Medical Publishing

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In this issue of The Journal, Hellems et al¹ describe the history of The Journal of Pediatrics and make some predictions for what readers will find in the future. In some ways, their predictions could be said to hold true of all peer-reviewed, indexed journals in the scientific, technical, and medical (STM) publishing industry, as well as Elsevier journals. Journals everywhere have experienced an increase in submissions from every country in the world. With the online journal now the journal of record, a growing electronic presence, with more global readership, is vital to the continuing health of all journals. The Journal is experiencing all these changes and responding to the challenges and opportunities they present. There are, however, bigger challenges for all publishers like Elsevier, and those challenges—and some of them are true opportunities—are characteristic of an interactive and linked literature (eg, e-mail, iPod, Facebook).

Scientists and physicians want and need to receive information as quickly and as completely as possible. They want aggregated content across which they can search for specific information targeted to their needs. Fulfilling this requirement led to the establishment of a proprietary database at Elsevier called ScienceDirect and the presence of journal websites, such as www.jpeds.com. Many subscribers responded by giving up their print subscriptions to journals, using their online access to search and find content important to their research and their practice. Although we measure readership in print in the online world, we also measure usage, article downloads, and more. The Journal continues to publish the highest-quality articles and ranks third of 74 journals in the subject category, pediatrics, according to Journal Citation Reports (JCR).² What Elsevier experienced, as did all STM publishers, was a significant change in how readers wanted to read and access the journal literature.

The value of excellent, peer-reviewed journal articles remains the lodestone and the raison dêtre of the STM publishing business. Our investment in editors and editorial boards, ever-faster and more accurate production systems, and other technical improvements all exist to deliver that content to the readers of The Journal and the other Elsevier journals. For us, content remains king, and the growth in impact factor for The Journal is just one metric that demonstrates our successful partnership with the medical and scientific research community.

Impact factor and journal rankings are not the whole story. An interesting aspect of The Journal's visibility is the quick “pick up” of much of our research content by the consumer press and other medical publishers. One example is an article and an accompanying editorial providing new evidence that strengthens the link between late preterm birth and developmental risks.³, ⁴ The findings published in this article were cited by The Washington Post and other national and international media, including CNN, Reuters, and global publications and online news services. We now deliver press releases via e-mail to reporters who can access our website and download the PDFs of the articles immediately.

Yet another metric of success is the thousands of downloads of articles from The Journal's website (almost 900 000 page views a year) and other Elsevier venues.

New business models such as open access (OA), as well as mandates issued by universities and different funding bodies, are another fundamental change in the STM publishing world. Publishers firmly support the infrastructure that supports the peer-reviewed literature (editor-in-chief, an editorial board, reviewers, managing editors, online review systems) as well as the value that publishers add (copyediting, typesetting, linking, and many other enhancements) to manuscripts on their way to publication. We understand the importance of getting accurate vital information and knowledge to the research community as well as to practitioners. Ultimately, we know that The Journal's content plays an important role in the improvement of patient care. The STM publishing industry has responded to these new challenges with new business models, some of which include delayed access to journal archives, sponsored articles, and open access to some journal content. Even before the OA movement was underway, The Journal allowed open access, via www.jpeds.com, to all abstracts, all editorials, all articles covered by press releases, and other selected content. Many other Elsevier journals do the same. In this way we know that we are fulfilling our responsibility to the science and practice of pediatric medicine. The Journal also participates in other electronic initiatives supported by Elsevier, such as providing inexpensive access to our content to consumers who are looking for scientific content.

Some of our society publishing partners are challenged with declining memberships in a world where a society journal, as a benefit of membership, is not as powerful an inducement if that same journal can be accessed through institutional subscriptions. Some individuals want access to content with answers to their clinical questions at the point of care. Others see content as a learning opportunity that will answer questions with future patients. Elsevier and its journals, with our society and editorial board partners, must find the solutions to that all-important question of access. What does the reader/end user want and where and when does he/she want it?

The entire STM publishing industry constantly ponders the future of print. We are often asked, “Is print dead?” At The Journal we have done our research and we know that print continues to be the medium of choice for many. A recent strategically oriented Editorial Board Meeting of The Journal identified our need to remain flexible to the demands of the audience. For the present, that includes content in both print and electronic format. But perhaps it may be a different delivery of a print format or a different delivery of e-content.

Our mission at The Journal continues unchanged: Deliver high-quality content, provide our readers with a variety of access choices, and stay in touch with the entire specialty, recognizing that different readers require different approaches. With the continuation of a strong partnership with the pediatric research and practice communities, we believe that The Journal will continue to develop and flourish over the next 75 years.

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References 

1. Hellems MA, Gurka KK, Hayden GF. A review of The Journal of Pediatrics: the first 75 Years. J Pediatr. 2009;155:16–20
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2. Journal Citation Reports. Thomson Reuters [cited December 17, 2008]. Available at: http://www.thomsonreuters.com/products_services/scientific/Journal_Citation_Reports.
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3. Petrini JR, Dias T, McCormick MC, Massolo ML, Green NS, Escobar GJ. Increased risk of adverse neurological development for late preterm infants. J Pediatr. 2009;154:169–176
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4. Kramer MS. Late preterm birth: appreciable risks, rising incidence. J Pediatr. 2009;154:159–160
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