Canadian Medical Association Journal 1996; 155: 855
Journal readers (and editors) are confronting important changes in the information they must find and use. There is more of it, produced by a wider variety of researchers who are increasingly specialized and subspecialized. There is more rapid transmission to the media and thence to the public, our patients.
Who are the readers of CMAJ? Primarily, they are practising physicians. In increasing numbers they are women, and many have families and other responsibilities in their local communities. But, most important, our readers are men and women who entered medicine through an increasingly rigorous selection process and who are passionate and caring individuals, well educated and scientifically curious.
To serve our readers CMAJ and CMA Publications must deliver high-quality, authoritative information in a timely manner. Dr. Patricia Huston, associate editor-in-chief of CMAJ, outlined the mission of the journal earlier (CMAJ 1996; 155: 7). This tradition of scientific excellence must be continued and enhanced, but the journal must also be interesting. We want you to read it.
Editing a medical journal is increasingly complex. My task is made easier by the strong publications team at CMA Publications. We seek to improve CMAJ, both for those who contribute to it and for those who read it. I welcome your comments and suggestions. Call me at 800 663-7336, x2118, or write to me at PO Box 8650, Ottawa ON K1G 0G8; hoeyj@cma.ca.