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EDITOR: GEORGE H. MORRISON EDITORIAL HEADQUARTERS 1155 Sixteenth St., N.W. Washington, D.C. 20036 Phone: 202-872-4570 Teletype: 710-8220 151
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Executive Editor: Josephine M. Petruzzi Managing Editor: Barbara Cassatt
The Ingelfinger Rule
Associate Editor: Stuart A . Borman Assistant Editors; Marcia S. Cohen, Rani A. George Editorial Assistant: Louise Voress Production Manager; Leroy L. Corcoran Art Director: John V. Sinnett Staff Artist: Linda M. Mattingly Copy Editor: Gail M. Mortenson Circulation Manager: Cynthia G. Smith Journals Dept., Columbus, Ohlo Associate Head: Marianne Brogan Associate Editor: Rodney L. Temos Advisory Board: Joel A. Carter, Richard S. Danchik. Richard Durst, Dennis H. Evans, Jack W. Frazer, Helen Ivl. Free, Shizuo Fujiwara, Roland F. Hirsch, Csaba Horvath, Wilbur I. Kaye, Thomas C. O’Haver, Janet Osteryoung, Herbert L. Retcofsky, Robert E. Sievers, Wilhelm Simon, Rudolph H.Stehl Instrumentation Advisory Panel: Edward M. Chait, M. Bonnisr Denton, Raymond E. Dessy, Larry R. Faulkner, Martin S. Frant, Michael L. Gross, Fred E. Lytle, Curt Reimann, Andrew T. Zander Contributing Editor, AI C interface: Raymond E. Dessy The Analytical Approach Advisory Panel: Edward C. Dunlop, Robert A. Hofstader, Wilbur D. Shults Regulatory Affairs, Analgtlcal Dlvlslon Committee: Curt W. Reimann (Chairman) Published by the AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY 1155 16th Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20036 Books and Journals Dlvlslon Director: D. H. Michael Bcwen Journals: Charles R. Bertsch Production: Elmer Pusey, ,Jr. Marketing & Sales: Claud K. Robinson Research and Development: Seldon W. Terrant
In every discipline there is a preferred forum for publishing one’s work; in the field of medicine the most highly regarded general journal in the world is the 171-year-old N e w England Journal of Medicine (NEJM). Perhaps only one in 10 of the research papers submitted is ever accepted. Most are rejected after initial review, but some also fall prey to the dreaded “Ingelfinger rule.” Named after the Journal’s former editor, Dr. Franz Ingelfinger, this rule prohibits publication in the Journal of any work that has already appeared elsewhere via any medium, whether scholarly or popular. Now if you have a hot piece of medical news, it is often hard to keep the reporters a t bay. Keeping a low media profile is not much of a problem for most analytical chemists, but there are some valuable lessons to be learned from how another journal of high repute operates. I recently had the opportunity to compare notes with the present editor of the NEJM, Dr. Arnold S. Relman, and I noted many similarities with ANALYTICALCHEMISTRY.
One could ask “Are some journals particular because they’re so good?” An accurate answer might be “They’re so good because they’re partieular.” For editor Relman, eclecticism is the key to his journal’s value in this age o i specialization. Today, as physicians become more and more pressed for time, it is vital that they keep their interests broad and not lose sight of the “big picture.” Does this sound familiar? The peer review process is central to the operation of both journals. To maintain high standards on a broad-based journal one must depend on the opinions of specialists. Thus, for each manuscript considered for publication, both journals seek an opinion from a t least two experts in the field under discussion. When there is a difference of opinion between the two experts, a third referee may be consulted. The peer reviewers may ask the authors to perform additional experiments, recheck their data, or even modify their discussion and conclusion. Only when the editor and experts are convinced that the paper is sound, convincing, and reasonable is it accepted. These stringent measures result in journals publishing research of very high quality. As for the Ingelfinger rule (now increasingly referred to as the ‘‘Relman rule”), authors are cautioned against talking to the press while their work is under editorial review. This is both to protect the originality of the material and to encourage more responsible reporting. While some may disagree with this policy, it does not deter authors from fighting to get their papers published in this most respected journal with a circulation of over 210 000.
Manuscript requirements are published in the January 1983 issue, page 171. Manuscripts for publication (4 copies) should be submitted to ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY at the ACS Washington address. The American Chemical Society and its editors assume no responsibility for the statements and opinions advanced by contributors. Views expressed in the editorials are those of the editors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the American Chemical Society.
ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY, VOL. 55, NO. 7, JUNE 1983
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