Indian Pediatrics 2000;37: 7

From the Editor's Pen

The much-awaited year 2000 (Y2K) has finally arrived. This event had generated several expectations in practically every walk of life despite the threat from the Y2K bug. Understandably, our readers too may be interested in getting acquainted with the future course being charted out for the journal.

The art of editing medical journals has progressed dramatically during the recent years. Indian Pediatrics will strive to keep itself abreast of the latest developments in this field and accumulate relevant evidence applicable to our scenario. On the basis of collected evidence and global trends, we will retain the "newspaper journal" design with perpetual efforts to make the periodical more educative, interactive, entertaining and "reader friendly".

The conventional paper version of medical journals is being threatened by the relentless informatics revolution. If the ongoing bold experiments prove successful, traditional paper periodicals may soon face annihilation or be relegated to a poor second place. A vast majority of leading international journals have accepted the inevitable and introduced their "electronic versions" with an envisaged complementary role. Following a modest inauguration of its "electronic version" in April 1998, Indian Pediatrics too launched the full text dynamic web site recently. This development represents a pioneering effort amongst Asian medical journals. It has enhanced the global visibility, stature and scientific quality of Indian Pediatrics. A current average access rate of 4500 per week bears ample testimony to the overwhelming importance of our "electronic version".

Publication ethics will now be monitored more stringently. This has been necessitated by recent instances of duplicate publication, gift authorship and questionable data integrity that have been brought to our notice. The Journal Committee has not pushed these issues under the carpet but has taken appropriate action on the basis of the International Committee on Publication Ethics guidelines. We are grateful to the vigilant readers and referees who brought these instances to our attention.

The updated "Instructions to Authors" appearing in this issue of the Journal also outline a few modifications of the reporting format. "key messages" are being incorporated for easy and fast digestibility. The specific role of each author is to be defined at the end of the manuscript like "film credits". Hopefully, this will curb some "gift authorships". The stated competing interests of the authors will also appear at the end of the article. The intention is to make any conflicting interests (particularly commercial) transparent to the readers for drawing informed conclusions.

"Change is constant"! The Journal Committee therefore requests the readers to perpetually provide the requisite impetus and feedback to enable the journal to move with time.

I would also like to avail this opportunity to wish you and your family a happy and prosperous Y2K.

H.P.S. Sachdev,
Editor-in-Chief

OFFICE BEARERS AND THE MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD OF IAP-2000