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A Time of Transition for the AJR

rstanley{at}ajroffice.org

Although it is hoped that the change in editorial leadership of the AJR has been seamless and transparent to the loyal readership, it has not been so for the contributing authors and reviewers. Although the editorial operation in the Winston-Salem, NC, office worked like a fine Swiss watch, the decision was made to switch from a paper-based, United States Postal Service–delivered system, to an on-line, Web-based one. The Internet portal opened on October 1, 2003, in the ARRS/AJR production office in Leesburg, VA, and in the new editorial office in Birmingham, AL. The pace of learning for all concerned has been steadily increasing ever since.

Rapid Review, the software program of Cadmus Press, was selected for the move to the Internet, and the configuration process took place between July and September 2003. The first few weeks of October were filled with high expectations, moderate anxiety, daily new discoveries about the system, and multiple phone calls to the Winston-Salem office, which was then in a phasing-out mode. The large shoes worn by the outgoing Editor in Chief, Dr. Lee Rogers, seemed ill-fitting and loose on his rookie replacement. Fortunately, Dr. Rogers shared his wisdom and experience freely and frequently. Additional continuity and know-how have been provided by Drs. James Provenzale (Duke) and Howard Forman (Yale), Associate Editors who have remained on the team from the Rogers staff.

The learning curve has been steep for me and my Deputy Editor, Dr. Eric Stern (University of Washington), with new insights into the process gained on a weekly basis. Concordantly, our submitting authors and reviewers have patiently and skillfully implemented the new system with only occasional techno jams and glitches. For this willing cooperation on their part, we on the editorial and production staffs are most grateful. Although paper-based manuscripts are still being received and digitally uploaded into the system in the AJR production office in Leesburg, our goal is to convert to an entirely online system by 2005.

Advantages of the new system include global speed, ease of image and word file transfer (because most sources are now digital), independence and security of the delivery system, and portability of a virtual editor's office, among many others. With approximately 50% of manuscripts originating outside North America, the electronic submission process is now faster, is less expensive, and affords a level of intimacy of communication with our worldwide contributors not easily achieved with the earlier manual system. Over the next few years, key members of the editorial and production staffs, including Cindy deSa in Birmingham and Terry Fitterer, production manager, and Jill Peters, editorial manager, both in Leesburg, will become well known to the authors and reviewers. We anticipate a happy working relationship.

What does the future hold for the journal? First and foremost, we hope to maintain the high standard of journalistic excellence established by the former editorial staff. Second in order of importance is to keep the content of the journal relevant and interesting to our readers. Next, we hope to perfect our new digital system of manuscript submission, review, and editing to the satisfaction of our contributing authors. Finally, we plan to explore new avenues for presentation of scientific material involving the use of the Web-based electronic AJR to allow the incorporation of complementary and supplementary material such as 3D reconstructions, video clips, and other electronic files too large for inclusion in the paper journal.

By working closely with the other sponsoring organizations of the American Board of Radiology, the American Roentgen Ray Society hopes to make the AJR a key educational source for the lifelong learning and continuing medical education that will be expected in the future as key elements to maintain certification in our specialty. The new editorial staff willingly and eagerly accepts this challenge. We intend to be open and responsive to the needs and desires of the readership. Send us your e-mails and expect quick replies.

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This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Stanley, R. J. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Stanley, R. J. Social Bookmarking                      What's this?