Supplements:What, why, how and where?

Jo BakerProject Director, Special Projects

What is a supplement?

• Separate issue featuring content which may not fit the main journal. For example, it may be:

− Of specialist interest− Paid for centrally by an organization, or sponsored− Peer reviewed to journal standard, option to differ

process

• Content usually originates through enquiries from conferences, working groups, NGOs, etc, who want to publish collections of articles or meeting abstracts

• Standard editorial policies apply and Editors retain full control – may request changes or reject articles or abstracts

Why consider supplements?

Supplements contribute to journal development by:

• Establishing connections with external groups• Underlining the journal’s scope• Bringing

− New readers− New authors− Other supplements

• Good quality article supplement contributes positively to the journal’s Impact Factor:

Average citations after 2 years of publication:

7.8 citations per article

Main journal articles of the same age: 4.3

citations per article

• Meeting abstracts of 400 words or less are not normally included in Impact Factor calculations

Volume 7 Suppl 1

International Meeting on Fibrous Dysplasia/McCune-

Albright Syndrome and Cherubism

Why consider supplements?

Where do they come from?

::

Originating group Examples

ConferencesSocietiesSpecial interest groupsResearch/reporting groups

European Conference on Rare DiseasesISCB student groupBio-ontologies Special Interest GroupFramingham Heart Study

NGOs WHO, International Atomic Energy Agency

Government Departments NIH, US Department of Defense

Charities/foundations Gates FoundationSave the ChildrenDoris Duke Foundation

Industry/ Medical Communications Agencies

Bayer Animal HealthBristol Myers Squibb

How do we produce them?

• Specialist team at BioMed Central provides support • Aim to allow some flexibility in the process

−Price−Publication dates−Payment options−Number of submissions… and so on

• Follow up for repeat publications

If you know of any groups who may be interested in publishing supplements to any of our journals

please get in touch. __________________________________

Further information

Poster presentationNew Q&A online – Editors pages

Contacts:• Journal Development Editor• Executive Editor• Supplements Team (supplements@biomedcentral.com)

Examples: http://www.biomedcentral.com/supplements/all