So you want to be an editor [CMAJ

So you want to be an editor

CMAJ launches its Editorial Fellowship program

John Hoey, MD; Caralee Caplan, MD

CMAJ 1998;159:502

Dr. Hoey is Editor-in-Chief of CMAJ. Dr. Caplan is CMAJ's first Editorial Fellow.

See also:

News and analysis: CMAJ's first fellowship editor melds humanities and medicine

Is medical editing for you? The CMAJ Editorial Fellowship is a 12-month position created for young physicians with a keen interest in writing, editing and research. The fellowship offers a behind-the-scenes understanding of medical journal editing and an in-depth look at the intersection between the publishing process and the conduct and reporting of research. At the same time, the fellowship offers an opportunity to gain insight into the clinical, ethical and political issues affecting physicians and medical researchers in Canada and abroad.

Working closely with the editor-in-chief and his associates, the editorial fellow will participate in all aspects of medical journal editing: writing, working with authors on revisions, selecting peer reviewers, making editorial decisions on the publication of manuscripts, commissioning illustrations, soliciting commentaries, developing special theme issues and helping to determine the editorial direction of the journal. The editorial fellow will have exposure to the finer strokes of copyediting and production as well as to the business side of medical publishing. He or she will also participate in the activities of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (the Vancouver Group) and of other national and international committees.

The Editorial Fellowship offers a challenging mix of training, education and research. Educational enrichment will be coordinated through the University of Ottawa, where the editorial fellow will take courses in epidemiology and biostatistics according to his or her needs and interests. It is also expected that the editorial fellow will participate in intensive workshops in medical editing offered by professional associations such as the Council of Biology Editors.

The Third International Congress on Peer Review in Biomedical Publication, held last year in Prague, revealed the diversity of the scholarly inquiry now being carried out on the collection, reporting and diffusion of medical research (reported in JAMA 1998;280[3]). Among the research activities of the editorial fellow, we expect that one or more projects will be concerned with some aspect of medical publishing.

The ideal candidate will have, in addition to unnatural levels of enthusiasm and energy, some experience in writing and editing. He or she may be a recent medical graduate, part-way through a residency or interested in adding another year to a completed residency program. Salary is based on the equivalent residency remuneration in Ontario, and benefits are the same as those provided by the CMA to its employees. Advertisement for the position will appear in the next few issues of the journal. The deadline for applications is December 15, 1998.