This St Patrick's Day finds no lack of controversy at Irish Medical Journal
Article Abstract:
The Irish Medical Journal (IMJ) ceased publication in December 1987 following 50 distinguished years. A controversy exists over the cause of the IMJ's demise. The IMJ was beset by financial difficulties; it was running an annual deficit of $90,000. However, some observers claim that widespread dislike for the editor, and an editorial he had written in the September 1987 issue of the IMJ, prompted the passing of the journal. In the editorial, he took a strong stand against young doctors who had embarked on an 11-day strike in order to obtain a shorter work week and improvements in overtime pay rates. There was strong opposition by young physicians, called "junior doctors" in Ireland, who supported the removal of Eoin O'Brien as the IMJ editor. Closure of the IMJ, although considered a drastic measure, is speculated to have been used as a means of ousting O'Brien as editor. A resurrected IMJ began publication in November 1988 as a quarterly journal. In the first issue of the revived IMJ, the new editor immediately issued a strong statement in which he asserted his right to complete editorial freedom. If the financial outlook for the IMJ improves, the new editor, John F. Murphy, speculates that the journal may return to its former status as a monthly publication, but this will not occur in the foreseeable future. Other medical journals, notably The Lancet and The British Medical Journal have lamented what appears to have been an attack on editorial freedom triggering the closing of the IMJ in late 1987. Editors at other medical journals adamantly support the right to publish all opinions as a means of providing a forum for the debate of issues, particularly since medical issues and political controversy often intersect.
Publication Name: JAMA, The Journal of the American Medical Association
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0098-7484
Year: 1989
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Variation in journal peer review systems: possible causes and consequences
Article Abstract:
Scientific journal editors send manuscripts they are considering for publication out to experts, who evaluate them and recommend either that they be accepted, revised or rejected. The experts, or peer reviewers, play an important role in the process of selecting research articles for publication because editors typically rely heavily on their opinions. Many scholarly journals use peer review, but the way the process is applied varies from journal to journal. Previous research has shown that the percentage of manuscripts rejected differs dramatically across the range of journals, and it was hypothesized that other aspects of manuscript processing would vary by journal as well. The procedures for manuscript evaluation were compared for three scientific journals representing the physical, biological, and social sciences. Striking differences in the rate of manuscript acceptance were found. The American Sociological Review accepted 13 percent, Physiological Zoology accepted 59 percent, and Astrophysical Journal accepted 91 percent of the manuscripts submitted. Other factors found to differ included the average number of revisions required before eventual publication and the amount of time elapsed between submission and the final decision to accept or reject. In general, greater delays occur and are more tolerated by authors in fields where there is less competition to publish first. Editorial review proceeds more rapidly in disciplines in which competing research groups rush to report results before their colleagues. In conclusion, the peer review process does differ between scientific disciplines. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)
Publication Name: JAMA, The Journal of the American Medical Association
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0098-7484
Year: 1990
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Press Releases of Science Journal Articles and Subsequent Newspaper Stories on the Same Topic
Article Abstract:
Many newspapers will publish stories based on a press release from a medical journal. Researchers analyzed all newspaper stories on scientific research published in several international newspapers as well as the content of press releases distributed by some of the top science and medical journals between Dec 1, 1996 and Feb 28, 1997. A total of 142 newspaper stories referred to articles published in the journals and 84% of the stories referred to articles mentioned in press releases.
Publication Name: JAMA, The Journal of the American Medical Association
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0098-7484
Year: 1998
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