Abstract
Medical journals have interesting relationships with their owners. The Lancet is owned by Elsevier, the BMJ by the British Medical Association, and the JRSM, of course, belongs to the Royal Society of Medicine. Ownership by such powerful organizations has its benefits. These journals have security in our financially troubled times. They have access to sales and marketing support to help promote and grow their readerships. They can even venture into international markets. Benevolent ownership that allows the journal editorial freedom is every editor's dream. Unfortunately, the reality is never so idyllic.
Powerful commercial organizations such as Elsevier have stringent business targets, which include objectives for the journal. It is hard for even the most independent editor not to be mindful of a journal's commercial performance. Powerful medical associations, like the BMA, have large memberships to placate. They will be conscious of the political ramifications of what is published in their house journal. The editor will be mindful of sensibilities within the organization. In addition, commercial pressures are increasingly influencing the strategies and the objectives of medical associations.
Is it possible for an editor to be truly independent when dealing with the real politik of any organization? Probably not, but any decent editor will fight for the independence of their journal. A scientific society, like the RSM, is much different to a commercial organization or a political medical association. The principles of scientific freedom are easily extended to the journal, allowing it to operate autonomously.
This is certainly the case with the JRSM, where I have never experienced any attempt to interfere with the editorial decision-making of the journal. RSM members can be proud that the society's officers are upholding the highest principles of governance in relation to the JRSM. Of course, authors and readers might not always agree with the decisions of the journal but that is the way with any publication. Journals are about debate and debating the decisions of the editorial team are a legitimate exercise.
Ownership by societies, however, comes with an added complication, as the letter by Geoffrey Walker highlights (
In addition, all authors should have an equal chance of publishing in the JRSM, provided that their articles are of relevance to JRSM readers. JRSM already receives far more articles than it can publish, which is why the new sister journal, JRSM Short Reports, has been launched.
Many meetings are wonderful to attend but difficult to recount in the form of a journal article. Indeed, a direct report of a meeting makes for dull reading and is unlikely to be published. It is another form of vanity publishing. The RSM's new video lectures service on the RSM website now broadcasts the best of the lectures delivered at the RSM. We would broadcast and publish every lecture or meeting held at the RSM if both the demand and the resources existed. There isn't the demand and there aren't the resources.
The JRSM's objective is to become the leading clinical journal on UK medicine and healthcare. To that end, the journal has to reach out to RSM members but also reach beyond them. The RSM is a society that engages in the wider debate on medicine and healthcare outside the walls of 1 Wimpole Street. JRSM's editorial policy reflects that positioning. If JRSM is to grow and flourish, provide a valuable service for members, as well as attract new ones, then it must continue with its current approach.
But that doesn't mean that members enthusiastic to write up a meeting should not consider the JRSM. There are two ways to be published. First, you consider writing a clinical review, essay or editorial based on the most interesting theme of the meeting. You will need to submit via the online submission system and your paper will be considered equally with other submissions if it is judged to be appropriate for the JRSM's readership it will be published. Second, if you have several potential articles you might want to offer the journal a series or – if the theme of the meeting was too narrow for general readers – you could consider a supplement to JRSM, although supplements will require additional funding.
At the very least, I am happy to discuss potential articles. The route to JRSM is not closed for meeting organizers and speakers but there is certainly no automatic entry.