Vision for a digital future

Abstract

The greatest opportunities and challenges for medical journals today involve how we keep pace with technology and, in particular, with the changes in digital publishing. Leading publishers are those using new technologies—such as devices and social media—to deliver the information people want and need for medical research or medical care. Pertinent content and timely delivery combine to help achieve better outcomes for patients. Rather than simply reporting research results, journals are poised to change the way medical professionals practice. At the Neurology ® editorial retreat in March 2011, themed “Reimagining the Journal,” ideas emerged regarding publication of journals in the future; we determined that Neurology would be a leader among specialty journals in finding ways to improve and enhance the reading experience for our readers. We have already achieved several goals set at the retreat and are planning other initiatives. We are transitioning to different ways of enhancing the content, packaging, and distribution of Neurology . Neurology content is already on an app for the iPad, which many readers have described as the superior way to browse and read the journal. Web access is optimized for viewing on mobile phones, whatever the operating system. Our new journal, Neurology: Clinical Practice , will appear in print, online, and in an app for the iPad. Our correspondence section has morphed into an online interactive discussion forum, dubbed Writ e Click, with feedback links incorporated into our online and iPad versions. QR codes in the print journal link our print and digital formats; these codes link to additional data or features, such as video or audio files, or to supplemental …