Author's editors: facilitators of science information transfer

Abstract

I set out to describe the multifaceted role of author's editors in scientific‐technical‐medical (STM) information transfer. Help with manuscript preparation is only part of the picture; author's editors deal with many other formats for information transfer in addition to manuscripts that report original research. They may advise authors on publication ethics, peer review, and the publication process. They may work individually with authors, or as part of a writing and documentation team. They may act as the author's mentor and advocate when circumstances threaten authors' rights or dilute their responsibilities as communicators of science. Up to now author's editors have generally remained anonymous, but I conclude that recent developments in authorship policy may give more credit and public acknowledgement to the valuable part they play in the process of communicating scientific research. I also suggest that their close interaction with the producers, distributors, and consumers of STM information puts them in a prime position to contribute to research aimed at identifying and correcting deficiencies in current publication processes.

Professional writing assistance: effects on biomedical publishing

“…2,3,11,16,19,33,36 But according to the work of Flanagin and colleagues the prevalence of undisclosed help from professional writers is low; moreover other types of ghost contributions appear to be more common. 39 This review of the literature shows that there is insufficient research to assess the effects of professional writers on the accuracy, quality and readability of biomedical papers.…”

“…The rapid growth in the formal education and training of professional writers suggests that they could have an important role in disseminating scientific information. 11,12 Improvement of the quality and readability of papers I found anecdotal reports that professional writing assistance improves the quality and readability of papers. [11][12][13][14]16,40 According to an…”

“…16 Advocates of professional writing assistance have therefore argued that one of its main benefits is that papers are submitted to journals more quickly. [11][12][13][14] …”

“…11 In addition, they could educate commercial companies and researchers about good publication practices.…”

“…9 Writing assistance is well established in the publication process. 11,43 Also, such an approach is unlikely to have the instrumental support of a sizeable proportion of researchers and clinicians. 16 Most likely, attempts to exclude professional writers from biomedical publishing would drive professional writing assistance underground and undermine attempts to encourage good practice.…”