Forensic Sci Med Pathol (2015) 11:115–116 DOI 10.1007/s12024-014-9622-z
COMMENTARY
Forensic publishing Michael Tsokos
Accepted: 3 October 2014 / Published online: 26 November 2014 Ó Springer Science+Business Media New York 2014
Over the last three decades, the field of forensic sciences has expanded enormously. A large number of new journals from different countries and various publishers that deal with the different subspecialties of forensic sciences clearly reflect this expansion. We as the scientific community have certainly noticed that electronic publishing, with medical journals only appearing online and without any hardcopy distribution, is getting more and more common [1, 2]. And indeed, this way to publish and to spread new knowledge is becoming more and more accepted within the scientific community [1, 2]—and why not? Even though I do prefer the smell of library rooms with their old leather chairs and hundreds of different books from different centuries that preserve the treasure of scientific knowledge, my personal attitude toward electronic publishing has changed over the past years. Those who have ever carried a load of textbooks and journals with them to have something to read on a business trip or to demonstrate to a judge the present state of scientific knowledge in a courtroom, will clearly appreciate the advantages of electronic publications. With the possibility of carrying small pocket-size mobile electronic devices not only on business trips but also into the autopsy room, to death scenes and into courtrooms, such devices not only have the advantage of less weight than textbooks but also the benefit of saving hundreds or even thousands of papers on different topics that are always at hand if needed. Much more important than the question as to whether to publish a work in the traditional way in a journal that is distributed as hardcopy (although an online version is
M. Tsokos (&) Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences, Charite´ – Universita¨tsmedizin Berlin, Turmstr. 21 (Haus M), 10559 Berlin, Germany e-mail: [email protected]
usually available additionally) or in a purely electronic form is, in my opinion, the fact that journals are not only devoted to different subdisciplines of forensic sciences, but that they do also differ very much in the way they present scientific observations. While all forensic journals have the same classic categories such as Editorial, Original Article, Review, Case Report, and Letter to the Editor, only some have kept pace with current times and still meet the needs of forensic practitioners. For example, only Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology offers sections such as Lessons from the Museum [3], Images in Forensics [4], or Differential Diagnosis [5] that do not solely address those involved in daily routine in the autopsy room but are also intended to inspire future research projects. Concerning academic credibility, surely not only a journal’s impact factor but also the time that the review process (‘‘turn-around times’’) takes are of considerable importance, especially for those of us who are based within universities. I once had a paper submitted to a general forensic journal that was the second leading journal in the field 10 years ago according to its impact factor. It took more than 4 years before I received a formal letter from the editor with two reviews attached. I did not revise the paper according to the reviewer’s suggestions. I withdrew the paper by explaining to the editor that I did not want to wait another 4 years until the next response. I submitted the paper to another journal where it was accepted after a 4 week review process. I never submitted a paper to the first journal again. This journal has now lost its credibility and is currently ranging in much lower impact levels. I am convinced that editors of medical journals need to have a great sense of responsibility. It is important how editors treat authors, and it is important that they honor their work. However, this should not be affected by whether the publication is in a printed or electronic format.
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References 1. Byard RW. Forensic text books: how to publish and perish, all at the same time. Forensic Sci Med Pathol. 2014; doi:10.1007/ s12024-014-9599-7. 2. Madea B. Forensic publishing. Forensic Sci Med Pathol. 2014; doi:10.1007/s12024-014-9613-0. 3. Widulin N, Gapert R, Tsokos M. Electrically-induced heat amputation of the hand in a case of fatal electric shock caused
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Forensic Sci Med Pathol (2015) 11:115–116 by a faulty table lamp. Forensic Sci Med Pathol. 2014;10: 136–8. 4. Tattoli L, Tsokos M, Buschmann C. Could the Shroud of Turin be an effect of post-mortem changes? Forensic Sci Med Pathol. 2014; 10:469–71. 5. Heath KJ, Byard RW. Ant activity as a source of post-mortem bleeding. Forensic Sci Med Pathol. 2014;10:472–4.
COMMENTARY
Forensic publishing Michael Tsokos
Accepted: 3 October 2014 / Published online: 26 November 2014 Ó Springer Science+Business Media New York 2014
Over the last three decades, the field of forensic sciences has expanded enormously. A large number of new journals from different countries and various publishers that deal with the different subspecialties of forensic sciences clearly reflect this expansion. We as the scientific community have certainly noticed that electronic publishing, with medical journals only appearing online and without any hardcopy distribution, is getting more and more common [1, 2]. And indeed, this way to publish and to spread new knowledge is becoming more and more accepted within the scientific community [1, 2]—and why not? Even though I do prefer the smell of library rooms with their old leather chairs and hundreds of different books from different centuries that preserve the treasure of scientific knowledge, my personal attitude toward electronic publishing has changed over the past years. Those who have ever carried a load of textbooks and journals with them to have something to read on a business trip or to demonstrate to a judge the present state of scientific knowledge in a courtroom, will clearly appreciate the advantages of electronic publications. With the possibility of carrying small pocket-size mobile electronic devices not only on business trips but also into the autopsy room, to death scenes and into courtrooms, such devices not only have the advantage of less weight than textbooks but also the benefit of saving hundreds or even thousands of papers on different topics that are always at hand if needed. Much more important than the question as to whether to publish a work in the traditional way in a journal that is distributed as hardcopy (although an online version is
M. Tsokos (&) Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences, Charite´ – Universita¨tsmedizin Berlin, Turmstr. 21 (Haus M), 10559 Berlin, Germany e-mail: [email protected]
usually available additionally) or in a purely electronic form is, in my opinion, the fact that journals are not only devoted to different subdisciplines of forensic sciences, but that they do also differ very much in the way they present scientific observations. While all forensic journals have the same classic categories such as Editorial, Original Article, Review, Case Report, and Letter to the Editor, only some have kept pace with current times and still meet the needs of forensic practitioners. For example, only Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology offers sections such as Lessons from the Museum [3], Images in Forensics [4], or Differential Diagnosis [5] that do not solely address those involved in daily routine in the autopsy room but are also intended to inspire future research projects. Concerning academic credibility, surely not only a journal’s impact factor but also the time that the review process (‘‘turn-around times’’) takes are of considerable importance, especially for those of us who are based within universities. I once had a paper submitted to a general forensic journal that was the second leading journal in the field 10 years ago according to its impact factor. It took more than 4 years before I received a formal letter from the editor with two reviews attached. I did not revise the paper according to the reviewer’s suggestions. I withdrew the paper by explaining to the editor that I did not want to wait another 4 years until the next response. I submitted the paper to another journal where it was accepted after a 4 week review process. I never submitted a paper to the first journal again. This journal has now lost its credibility and is currently ranging in much lower impact levels. I am convinced that editors of medical journals need to have a great sense of responsibility. It is important how editors treat authors, and it is important that they honor their work. However, this should not be affected by whether the publication is in a printed or electronic format.
123
116
References 1. Byard RW. Forensic text books: how to publish and perish, all at the same time. Forensic Sci Med Pathol. 2014; doi:10.1007/ s12024-014-9599-7. 2. Madea B. Forensic publishing. Forensic Sci Med Pathol. 2014; doi:10.1007/s12024-014-9613-0. 3. Widulin N, Gapert R, Tsokos M. Electrically-induced heat amputation of the hand in a case of fatal electric shock caused
123
Forensic Sci Med Pathol (2015) 11:115–116 by a faulty table lamp. Forensic Sci Med Pathol. 2014;10: 136–8. 4. Tattoli L, Tsokos M, Buschmann C. Could the Shroud of Turin be an effect of post-mortem changes? Forensic Sci Med Pathol. 2014; 10:469–71. 5. Heath KJ, Byard RW. Ant activity as a source of post-mortem bleeding. Forensic Sci Med Pathol. 2014;10:472–4.
