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How to submit a proposal for a new journal

Editorial Director
Updated

JMIR Publications is a leading open access academic publisher based in Toronto, Canada. Our aim is to reinvent research communication through grassroots, researcher-driven innovation in every aspect of peer-reviewed publishing, making use of Internet, social media, and mobile technologies. We are also doing research and development to innovate in the field of e-publishing and Knowledge Translation.

We are continuously looking for opportunities to publish research in leading-edge scientific disciplines and new topic areas; societies interested in creating new journals or looking for a new publisher; and visionary and highly regarded scientists who are interested in leading the creation and development of new journals in emerging disciplines (primarily working at the intersections between technology and medicine).

 

What are the advantages of publishing with JMIR Publications?

Working with JMIR Publications as partner has several advantages: 

  • strong brand recognition in particular in medical fields intersecting with technology and participatory medicine
  • cascading of manuscript from/to other JMIR Publications journals to help with the initial article draught which new unranked/unindexed journals often struggle with
  • support through a professional publishing staff including Editorial Assistants, Managing Editors, and Scientific Editors, who assist and support a journal in various aspects of peer review and scientific support
  • production support with in-house copyediting, typesetting, proofreading, and PubMed Central (PMC)-ready NLM-compliant XML files
  • dedicated research integrity and publication ethics support to help address integrity concerns, including post-publication issues
  • use of  technologies that support automated reviewer-identification/assignment and automated reference-checking during the production process (RefCheck)
  • PubMed indexing (guaranteed once accepted for PMC)
  • indexing in additional relevant databases, and application for Clarivate's Web of Science (for a journal impact factor)
  • access to a diverse and global network of potential authors, reviewers, and editors
  • promotion at conferences and through other channels including social media 
  • various Innovations, Knowledge Translation/Dissemination Add-Ons for our authors and editors
  • flexible co-ownership and/or revenue sharing models for society-owned or affiliated journals
  • all the advantages of working with a small/medium-sized publisher who is "mission-driven", i.e. passionate about research and less interested in maximizing profit

 

RFPs or New Journal Proposals from Professional Societies

JMIR Publications is happy to respond to Requests for Proposals (RFPs), RFIs or proposals from scientific/medical societies or other organizations looking for a new publisher for their existing assets/journals, or conversion of subscription journals to open access journals, or contemplating a new journal (RFP should contain the elements of a journal proposal listed below). Assets may also include databases or other innovative products. 

Please file your inquiry or RFP/RFI with ed-support@jmir.org.

 

New Journal Proposal from an Prospective Editor-in-Chief

Individuals may also submit new journal proposals, if the individual has substantial subject matter expertise in the journal's proposal scope/focus areas, international recognition in the field, and editorial experience. For example, proposed journals by self-nominated Editors-in-Chief typically have the following experience/credentials:

  • They are highly regarded and have an international, diverse professional network; 
  • They are usually highly cited individuals (e.g., h-index > 20);
  • They articulate a clear vision for their journal;
  • They have a solid understanding of other journals in the field/discipline, and how the new journal proposal differentiates itself from them.

Note: If being an Editor-in-Chief for a new journal is not a fit, a good start or alternative is to serve as a guest editor or apply to be an Associate Editor of an existing journal. See JMIR Publications' existing journals, as well as: 

 

Elements of a Journal Proposal

To apply, please develop and submit a journal proposal, containing for example:

  • Proposed Editor-in-Chief biography (short paragraph);
  • Recently updated curriculum vitae, including a list of the most cited publications or a link to a profile or faculty website that lists publications. (e.g., from Web of Science, Google Scholar, Scopus, etc); 
  • URL that indicates the applicant's h-index;
  • Name of the future journal ("JMIR [Discipline]" or an independent or society title);
  • Scope and focus of the journal; please see current JMIR Publications journal websites for examples;
  • An estimate of the "market" size in terms of how many papers per year in this discipline are published, with projections (e.g., searching PubMed is a possible starting point);
  • List competitor/similar journals and key differentiators about them, including their usual intended audiences and authors (e.g., clinicians, policymakers, etc); 
  • Describe how the new journal would distinguish itself from other journals that publish similar topics;
  • Example titles for at least 10 articles that could be solicited for peer review and potential publication;
  • A list of potential inaugural Associate Editors to recruit, noting their key qualifications and expertise areas that suit the scope/focus of the new journal; 
  • Describe a plan to recruit inaugural Associate Editors and and the first 25 submissions.
  • A list of other publishers you may have contacted or are in negotiation with potentially re: this new journal proposal.

 

Please submit your proposal to ed-support@jmir.org.

 

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