Abstract
On January 1, 2019, Ear, Nose & Throat journal transitioned from our former publisher and began an association with Sage, the publisher of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, Annals of Otology, Rhinology and Laryngology, and other major medical journals. So far, the collaboration has been outstanding and is resulting in changes that should be apparent to and welcomed by our readers, perhaps especially by our contributing authors. There were some troublesome issues while we were working with our former publisher, and all of the most critical problems were solved immediately by Sage. Our greatest struggle over the 15 years since I became editor-in-chief has been the long delay between acceptance of an article and its publication. This was disturbing to the authors, the editorial board, and the readers. Sage solved the problem overnight with the introduction of “Online First.” This provides citable publication online in advance of print. Not only are new articles published online within weeks following acceptance, but Sage also has been publishing “Online First” the articles accepted prior to Sage’s acquisition of the journal. In the first 4½ months, more than 200 articles were published either in an issue or “Online First.” The delay problem is essentially gone.
Sage also has created a comprehensive and user-friendly web platform for Ear, Nose & Throat journal readers. Web page viewers have at their fingertips all of the information that they might want. The web platform includes a homepage that displays the most recently published articles, the most read articles, the most cited articles, and other useful sources. It also has a direct link to the journal’s indexing page which explains all the indexing platforms in which the journal is included. This feature is helpful especially for authors in academic institutions.
The dedicated Sage staff has brought to the journal professionalism that has enhanced the journal substantially. The publisher has used social media, e-mail campaigns, conferences, and other venues to highlight the journal. This effort has contributed to the journal’s continued receipt of high-quality submissions, as well as to an increased number of views per article. In the first 6 months (January 1, 2019, through June 30, 2019), there were 49 311 abstract downloads and 113 148 full-text downloads of Ear, Nose & Throat journal articles. During those 6 months, the journal received 555 submissions, more than the 407 that we received during the entire preceding year. At present, our acceptance rate is 41%. The production staff at Sage has worked tirelessly to ensure excellent quality of each article, including articles that the publisher inherited as backlog from our previous publisher. Although the impact factor calculations are based on manuscripts published prior to our change in publisher, we are pleased to report that Ear, Nose & Throat journal received its all-time highest impact fact this year. The impact factor is 1.375, which ranks the journal 27 of 42 otolaryngology journals.
As pleased as we have been with the number of downloads, the accessibility of journal content will increase even more markedly beginning in 2020. Although readers will continue to receive the paper version of the journal, Sage has committed to changing Ear, Nose & Throat journal to an open-access journal. This will mean a modest charge to authors (need-based exceptions will be considered especially for authors from “third world countries.” A great many journals in otolaryngology and all other scientific fields have adopted the open-access model to improve accessibility to readers worldwide. This is especially valuable in countries in which subscriptions and even article download fees are unaffordable. We agree with the publisher that the modest fees to authors (substantially lower than most other open-access journals) will be manageable, and the greatly increased readership should more than compensate for the investment.
The journal also is working hard to obtain commercial support for special features that should be of great value to our readers. These include anticipated supplements and special topic issues on subjects such as lasers in otolaryngology, the state-of-the-art and controversies in laryngopharyngeal reflux, Eustachian tube diagnosis and treatment, management of serous otitis media, and other topics.
In addition, Sage has shown a welcome willingness to be collaborative. Kiley Allen, our associate publisher, not only granted permission to collect all of the geriatric clinics and make them available by link on the website of the American Society of Geriatric Otolaryngology (ASGO), but she even prepared the collection. So, visitors to the ASGO website, including geriatricians who are not otolaryngologists, have easy access to selected Ear, Nose & Throat journal content.
Ear, Nose & Throat journal is now in its 98th year. Our alliance with a highly professional publisher experienced in medical publication has been extremely gratifying for all parties. The journal is healthy and strong. It also is more user-friendly than it has ever been. We anticipate that all aspects of the journal will continue to improve rapidly over the coming decades.