ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
EDITORIAL
March 1960, Vol. 32, NO.3 APPLIED JOURNALS, ACS Direcfor o f Publications, C. B. Larrabee Editorial Direcfor, Richard 1. Kenyon Execufive Editor, James M. Crowe Assisfanf fo fhe Direcfor o f Publicafions, Joseph H. Kuney Assistant fo fhe Editorial Director, Robert F. Geuld ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY Editor, Lawrence T. Hallett Managing Editor, Robert G. Gibbs EDITORIAL HEADQUARTERS WASHINGTON 6, D. C. 1 1 5 5 Sixteenth SI., N.W. Teletype W A 23 Phone REpublic 7-3337 Associate Editors: G. Gladys Gordon, Stella Anderson, Kotherine I. Biggs, Robert J. Riley, Ruth M. Howorth, Eugenia Keller, Sue M. Solliday, Ruth Reynard Assisfanf Editors: Robert J. Kelley, Malvina B. Preisr Ediforiaf Assisfanfs: Katherine H. Ginnane, Virginia E. Stewart, S. S. Rogers, Lorraine M. Bertuzzi layouf and Producfion: Joseph Jacobs (Art Director), Melvin D. Buckner (Art); Betty V. Kieffer, John V. Sinnett BRANCH EDITORIAL OFFICES CHICAGO 3, ILL. Room 926, 36 South Wabosh Ave. Teletype CG 725 Phone STote 2-5148 Associafe Editors: Atthur Poulor, Chester Placek, James H. Krieger HOUSTON 2, TEX. 718 Melrose Bldg. Teletype HO 72 Phone FAirfox 3-7107 Associafe Edifors: Bruce F. Greek, Earl V. Anderson NEW YORK 16, N. Y. 2 Park Ave. Phone ORegon 9-1646 Teletype NY 1-4726 Associate Editors: William Q. Hull, Harry Stenerran, D. Gray Weaver, Walter S. Fedor, Laurence J. White, Louis A. Agnello SAN FRANCISCO 4, CALIF. 703 Mechanics’ Institute Bldg., 57 Post SI. Phone EXbrook 2-2895 Teletype SF 549 Associafe Editor: Richard 0. Newhall Assisfont Edifor: Joseph Sturchio EASTON, PA. 20th and Northampton Sts. Phone Blackburn 8-91 11 Teletype ESTN Pa 7048 Associate Editor: Charlotte C. Sayre Assisfanf Editor: Joyce A. Richards Edifariol Assisfants: Elizabeth R. Rufe, Borbara A. Conover EUROPEAN OFFICE Bush House, Aldwych, London Cable JIECHEM Phone Temple Bar 3605 Associate €difor: AI bert S. Hester Assisfanf Mifor: Brendan F. Somerville Contribufing Editor: R. H. Muller Advisory Board: W. H. Beamer, F. E. Beamish, C. E. Bricker, W. D. Cooke, D. D. DeFord, M. l. Kelley, C. l. Luke, w. M. h\acNevin, W. J. Mader, W. 8. Mason, F. W. Mitchell, Jr., N. H. Nachtrieb, E. J. Rosenbaum, B. F. Scribner, F. H. Stross Advertising Managernenf REINHOLD PUBLISHING CORP. (For Branch Offices see p a g e 131 A )
Significant Material Significance, n o t v a s t a r r a y of facts, i s scientist’s goal i n t e c h n i c a l r e a d i n g The typical scientist, who is seeking meaning and significance in the technical literature, recoils from the vast array of facts presented in the overwhelming mass of scientific data published. This observation, made by Frank C. McGrew, appeared in the December 1959 issue of the Del-Chem. Bulletin. M r . McGrew has been active in the editorship of Organic Reactions and the board of the Journal of Organic Chemistry. His views on the publication problems of the American Chemical Society are very interesting. He notes, correctly, that technical journals face two principal publication problems. One is increaying costs due to increasing volume of material to be published and increasing unit costs. The other is the general decline in the number of readers of scientific literature. Steps being taken to meet these problems, McGrew feels, are palliatives. He envisions eventually some new scheme of scientific publication. I n solving these problems he feels that a distinction should be made between documentation, the building of archives, and communication, the dissemination of news. Even though much data collected are of questionable value a t the moment, it is essential that they be recorded as such information is indispensable to the advance of science. Although the archives aspect of publications is a major problem, it is one for which a solution will probably be obtained through some system of mechanization. The other aspect, that of bringing to the reader the significance of such recorded material, is an entirely different problem and one which is extremely challenging to editors. To achieve communication, which NcGrew describes as the meeting and interaction of minds, a journal “must contain reading matter that attracts attention, stimulates imagination, conveys immediate usable knowledge, or in some way reaches into the minds of many readers.” T o accomplish this the writer must show clearly, with a minimum of supporting data, how his information contributes to the structure of science. The editor, in turn, must maintain high standards of cogency and brevity and emphasize the communication aspects rather than recording for the archives. Such a policy sometimes places on the editor the unenviable responsibility, duty, and prerogative of sitting in judgment on the work of his peers. The editors of ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY agree in general with this philosophy outlined by hIr. McGrew. The editors try to select those papers which make a contribution to theory and methodology. The editors encourage submission of “archives” data to these organizations which collect and publish such material. There are many pitfalls for both authors and editors in attaining this goal but it is one which we feel is worth while.
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