Selecting a Journal
Potential journals in
Public Health
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American Journal of Epidemiology
American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Clinical Infectious Diseases (CID)
Emerging Infectious Diseases (EID)
International Journal of Infectious Diseases
International Journal of Tb and Lung Disease
Journal of Clinical Investigation
Journal of Clinical Microbiology (J Clin Micro)
Journal of Infectious Disease (JID)
Journal of Medical Entomology
Journal of Parasitology
Journal of Virology
Parasite Immunology
Parasitology
When to choose target journal?
EARLY !
Journal choice determines:
- Length of paper
- Number of figures
- Reference format
Choosing a Journal
1. Evaluate journals to find best match
for your study
2. Confirm choice with co-authors
(maybe with journal editors)
Evaluating a Journal
1. What do they publish?
- Subject Areas
- Hypothesis vs. Descriptive vs. Methods
- Full length articles only? Short reports as well?
2. Who is their audience?
3. Does my study meet their requirements?
Ref: Penrose & Katz
Briefly read published articles
American Journal of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene
“Effect of Mosquito Midgut Trypsin Activity on Dengue-2
Virus Infection and Dissemination in Aedes aegypti”
Emerging Infectious Diseases
“Leptospirosis during Dengue Outbreak, Bangladesh”
“Retinal Hemorrhages in 4 Patients with Dengue Fever”
Does my article fit in?
Review the journal’s website
About
the
Journal
From the website:
The American Journal of
Tropical Medicine & Hygiene
Goal: “Emphasis on laboratory science and the
application of technology in the fields of tropical
medicine, parasitology, immunology, infectious
diseases, epidemiology, basic and molecular biology,
virology and international medicine.”
Audience: “Microbiologists, epidemiologists,
virologists, parasitologists, pharmacologists, and
clinicians at major granting institutions including
philanthropic & governmental institutions active in the
public health field, and medical and scientific
libraries.”
Additional factors to consider
• Costs (do they charge per page?)
• Acceptance rate (10% ? 30%?)
• Publication speed (2 months? 1 year?)
• Figures
- Number
- Color charges
- Picture resolution
• Free full-text access to readers on-line?
Short articles
• Called “Short reports”, “Dispatches” or “Notes”
• Style/length vary by journal
• For submission of important preliminary
observations, technique modifications, or data
that do not warrant publication as a full paper
• Fewer words, figures, tables, references
• A brief abstract is required for indexing, but
delineated sections are not always used
Not sure? Ask!
 Ask colleagues, co-authors
 Send editors a short summary
of your paper & ask them if interested
 Find email address on website
e.g., for Emerging Infectious Disease:
“Inquiries about the suitability of proposed articles may
be directed to eideditor@cdc.gov. Send a brief abstract
or synopsis of the proposed manuscript for assessment.”
After choosing a journal
• Obtain “Instructions to Authors” from web
or paper journal
• Read the rules of the game
• Follow every direction they give
• Why?
Make it easy for them to say yes!
Finding the “Instructions to Authors”
Instructions
to Authors
Instructions to authors
1. Preparation of the manuscript
• Line spacing and margins
• Page numbers
• Font & size (often 12 pt, Times New Roman)
• Order: figures and figure legends?
• Number of characters in title & running title
• Word limit
• Subheadings (if style not specified, look at
published articles)
Instructions to authors
2. Tables, figures, and graphs:
•
•
•
•
Font
Internal lines in tables?
File format: .TIFF? .JPG? .EPS?
- be careful with .PPT from Mac!
Required resolution: 300- 1200 dpi
Color mode: RGB or CMYK?
Follow the guidelines &
your data will look the best!
Instructions to authors
3. Abstract/Summary
- Word limit (150 to 300 words usually)
- Structured or not?
4. Acknowledgments
- Who & what to include
5. References
- Journal specific format!
Instructions to authors
Format of References:
Journal #1 (AJTM&H)
1 Michaels E, Bunyan DJP, Charlesworth JM Jr, Black
JM III, 2004. Global mapping: lymphatic filariasis in
perspective. Parasitol Today 11: 472-476.
Journal #2 (EID)
(1) Michaels E, Bunyan DJP, Charlesworth JM Jr,
Black JM III. Global mapping: lymphatic filariasis in
perspective. Parasitol Today. 2004;11: 472-6.
Use EndnoteTM software
Questions? Ask editors!
“Your website says figures must be 300 dpi BUT
the latest issue of the paper journal says 600 dpi.
Which one do you prefer?”
Email the editors!
…and thank them for their help
Journal Impact Factor
2007 impact factor = A/B
A = the number of times articles published in 2005-6
were cited in indexed journals during 2007
B = the number of articles, reviews, proceedings or
notes published in 2005-6
The 2007 impact factor could only be published in
2008, since it could not be calculated until all of the
2007 publications had been received
http://www.sciencegateway.org/rank/index.html