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Editorial policy and review practice at the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
THE JOURNAL OF
ALLERGY AND
CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY VOLUME 94
NUMBEFt 3, PART 1
Editorial Editorial policy and review practice at the JOURNALOF ALLERGYAND CLINICALIMMUNOLOGY
In the specialty of allergy and immunology, the JOURNAL has the largest circulation (about 9000 per issue) and is the most often cited. It ranks one-hundred sixty-fifth in citations among 4447 medical and scientific journals. These figures represent the success of a 5-year term under Burton Zweiman's leadership. In March 1993, the office moved to Baltimore, and a new editorial team took: over the JOURNAL.A transition such as this is, of necessity, gradual. The previous editors saw all papers submitted until March through review, revision, and publication, whereas the new editors supervised only new submissions. Because of the time required for the review and publication process, it was not until April 1994 that the greater part of an issue of the JOURNALwas the product of the new team. Now, several issues later, it seems a good time to report on our progress and to restate the policies under which we operate. T])e new editors have instituted a few changes, which were described in an editorial in the September 1993 issue. Authors may now submit short papers for rapid communication of data of exceptional importance and receive expedited review and more speedy publication. As yet, only a few authors have availed themselves of this opportunity. We are emphasizing the need for structured abstracts as a way of making these important summaries more readable. Authors are asked to describe any possible conflicts of interest in a J ALLERGY CLIN IMMUNOL1994;94:425-6 Copyright © 1994 by Mosby-Year Book, Inc. 0091-6749/94 $3.00 + 0 1/1/58344
separate letter to the editor at the time of submission. The editors then choose whether to reveal such information, if the paper is published. Graphics are reviewed carefully to be sure that they will reproduce well and are returned for revision with specific instructions if they are judged to be in need of improvement. The JOURNALcontinues to seek to publish original work regarding the human diseases that fall under the term allergy and immunology. Although the focus is disease, we accept papers that present insights obtained from biochemical, cellular, and animal experimentation, as well as studies of antigens and allergens and the environment itself. The study of patients and their physiology is an important focus, as are practical investigations of diagnosis and treatment. Papers accepted by the JOURNAL should advance the practice of allergy and immunology by adding to the information needed for a better understanding of disease and its management or prevention. Although the greater part of the JOURNALconsists of "original" articles, the JOURNALcontinues to invite reviews and editorials as needed to inform our readers about rapidly moving research subjects or innovations in practice. Furthermore, the JOURNALis the official organ of the American Academy of Allergy and Immunology and publishes policy pronouncements and committee reports from the Academy. Editorial review of original papers is a complex and time-consuming process designed to assure the quality of original papers and to give authors as fair and unbiased review as possible. The 425
426
Norman
JOURNAL receives about 600 submissions, of all types, each year and has space for only about 200 of them. Of necessity, many authors are disappointed. Furthermore, the review and decisionmaking process involves many steps and many opportunities for both delay and error. The new editorial office has had to undergo a "break in" process, both with new personnel and a newly designed relational data program for tracking both manuscripts and referee performance. The editors are grateful for the patience of authors with the problems that have surfaced during this time and apologize for any delays that have resulted from errors. By January 1994, it had become apparent that it was no longer possible for a single editorial assistant to handle the complexities of tracking manuscripts from receipt to publication. The Academy and the publisher acted rapidly on the editor's recommendation for more help, and a second half-time person started within the month. This has allowed the editorial office to do two things: to answer in a timely fashion phone calls and fax messages from authors requesting information about the status of their papers and to institute a more rigorous program of reminders to referees who have manuscripts for review longer than 3 weeks. Medical publishing is such that editors must depend on volunteer referees for the bulk of the work that goes into editorial review and revision. Each submission goes to at least two referees for a written opinion. Referees may disagree, which requires a third tie-breaking review. Review by a statistician may also be needed. The editors must consider these opinions and arrive at a decision. Revision is often needed, and the revised manuscript requires further review. The time it takes to carry a paper from receipt to final decision is mainly occupied by finding referees and waiting for reviews to be returned.
J ALLERGY CLIN IMMUNOL SEPTEMBER 1994
Since January 1994, the time to a first decision has averaged around 8 weeks for the JOURNAL.This figure is competitive with other journals that are willing to state their time. It is, however, an average figure, and the time varies greatly for individual manuscripts. Delays can occur for many unforeseen reasons. The common one is that the first referees to receive a manuscript refuse the opportunity to review. Next, a referee who accepts a manuscript may take an inordinately long time to review it, despite reminders. A few even change their minds and refuse a manuscript after many weeks. The editors make every effort to avoid these situations. Manuscripts are sent to a third referee when one of the original referees has not responded to several reminders. We constantly revise our list of referees, both by excluding persons who keep manuscripts too long (or who return poor reviews) and by adding new referees who have expressed an interest in reviewing manuscripts. Reviewing manuscripts is a voluntary effort, and both editors and authors should be grateful for work that results in virtually no public recognition and no gain except personal satisfaction. To copyedit, typeset, proofread, print, and mail an issue of the JOURNALis also a complex process that requires a minimum of about 3lie months. Again, this figure is competitive with other medical journals. When the queue of accepted articles becomes long, the wait becomes long. Since July 1994, however, the queue has been short enough that the time from acceptance to appearance in the JOURNALis at the 4- to 5-month level. Thus the JOURNAL currently offers authors of original articles a good opportunity for a relatively brief time from submission to appearance in print.
Philip S. Norman, MD Editor
ALLERGY AND
CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY VOLUME 94
NUMBEFt 3, PART 1
Editorial Editorial policy and review practice at the JOURNALOF ALLERGYAND CLINICALIMMUNOLOGY
In the specialty of allergy and immunology, the JOURNAL has the largest circulation (about 9000 per issue) and is the most often cited. It ranks one-hundred sixty-fifth in citations among 4447 medical and scientific journals. These figures represent the success of a 5-year term under Burton Zweiman's leadership. In March 1993, the office moved to Baltimore, and a new editorial team took: over the JOURNAL.A transition such as this is, of necessity, gradual. The previous editors saw all papers submitted until March through review, revision, and publication, whereas the new editors supervised only new submissions. Because of the time required for the review and publication process, it was not until April 1994 that the greater part of an issue of the JOURNALwas the product of the new team. Now, several issues later, it seems a good time to report on our progress and to restate the policies under which we operate. T])e new editors have instituted a few changes, which were described in an editorial in the September 1993 issue. Authors may now submit short papers for rapid communication of data of exceptional importance and receive expedited review and more speedy publication. As yet, only a few authors have availed themselves of this opportunity. We are emphasizing the need for structured abstracts as a way of making these important summaries more readable. Authors are asked to describe any possible conflicts of interest in a J ALLERGY CLIN IMMUNOL1994;94:425-6 Copyright © 1994 by Mosby-Year Book, Inc. 0091-6749/94 $3.00 + 0 1/1/58344
separate letter to the editor at the time of submission. The editors then choose whether to reveal such information, if the paper is published. Graphics are reviewed carefully to be sure that they will reproduce well and are returned for revision with specific instructions if they are judged to be in need of improvement. The JOURNALcontinues to seek to publish original work regarding the human diseases that fall under the term allergy and immunology. Although the focus is disease, we accept papers that present insights obtained from biochemical, cellular, and animal experimentation, as well as studies of antigens and allergens and the environment itself. The study of patients and their physiology is an important focus, as are practical investigations of diagnosis and treatment. Papers accepted by the JOURNAL should advance the practice of allergy and immunology by adding to the information needed for a better understanding of disease and its management or prevention. Although the greater part of the JOURNALconsists of "original" articles, the JOURNALcontinues to invite reviews and editorials as needed to inform our readers about rapidly moving research subjects or innovations in practice. Furthermore, the JOURNALis the official organ of the American Academy of Allergy and Immunology and publishes policy pronouncements and committee reports from the Academy. Editorial review of original papers is a complex and time-consuming process designed to assure the quality of original papers and to give authors as fair and unbiased review as possible. The 425
426
Norman
JOURNAL receives about 600 submissions, of all types, each year and has space for only about 200 of them. Of necessity, many authors are disappointed. Furthermore, the review and decisionmaking process involves many steps and many opportunities for both delay and error. The new editorial office has had to undergo a "break in" process, both with new personnel and a newly designed relational data program for tracking both manuscripts and referee performance. The editors are grateful for the patience of authors with the problems that have surfaced during this time and apologize for any delays that have resulted from errors. By January 1994, it had become apparent that it was no longer possible for a single editorial assistant to handle the complexities of tracking manuscripts from receipt to publication. The Academy and the publisher acted rapidly on the editor's recommendation for more help, and a second half-time person started within the month. This has allowed the editorial office to do two things: to answer in a timely fashion phone calls and fax messages from authors requesting information about the status of their papers and to institute a more rigorous program of reminders to referees who have manuscripts for review longer than 3 weeks. Medical publishing is such that editors must depend on volunteer referees for the bulk of the work that goes into editorial review and revision. Each submission goes to at least two referees for a written opinion. Referees may disagree, which requires a third tie-breaking review. Review by a statistician may also be needed. The editors must consider these opinions and arrive at a decision. Revision is often needed, and the revised manuscript requires further review. The time it takes to carry a paper from receipt to final decision is mainly occupied by finding referees and waiting for reviews to be returned.
J ALLERGY CLIN IMMUNOL SEPTEMBER 1994
Since January 1994, the time to a first decision has averaged around 8 weeks for the JOURNAL.This figure is competitive with other journals that are willing to state their time. It is, however, an average figure, and the time varies greatly for individual manuscripts. Delays can occur for many unforeseen reasons. The common one is that the first referees to receive a manuscript refuse the opportunity to review. Next, a referee who accepts a manuscript may take an inordinately long time to review it, despite reminders. A few even change their minds and refuse a manuscript after many weeks. The editors make every effort to avoid these situations. Manuscripts are sent to a third referee when one of the original referees has not responded to several reminders. We constantly revise our list of referees, both by excluding persons who keep manuscripts too long (or who return poor reviews) and by adding new referees who have expressed an interest in reviewing manuscripts. Reviewing manuscripts is a voluntary effort, and both editors and authors should be grateful for work that results in virtually no public recognition and no gain except personal satisfaction. To copyedit, typeset, proofread, print, and mail an issue of the JOURNALis also a complex process that requires a minimum of about 3lie months. Again, this figure is competitive with other medical journals. When the queue of accepted articles becomes long, the wait becomes long. Since July 1994, however, the queue has been short enough that the time from acceptance to appearance in the JOURNALis at the 4- to 5-month level. Thus the JOURNAL currently offers authors of original articles a good opportunity for a relatively brief time from submission to appearance in print.
Philip S. Norman, MD Editor