The JAMA Network Journals:  New Names for the Archives Journals FREE

The group of scientific publications that includes JAMA and the Archives specialty journals is undergoing a major evolution. In April 2012, we launched The JAMA Network, a new editorial/publishing system that closely interconnects JAMA and the 9 Archives Journals. In May, the new JAMA Network website was launched, and soon, The JAMA Network smartphone/tablet app will be available.

We are now pleased to announce formally that effective January 1, 2013, all 9 of the Archives Journals will be officially renamed JAMA Dermatology, JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery, JAMA Internal Medicine, JAMA Neurology, JAMA Ophthalmology, JAMA Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery, JAMA Pediatrics, JAMA Psychiatry, and JAMA Surgery. These changes continue the evolution of The JAMA Network, and the new journal names will coincide with the first major print redesign of The JAMA Network Journals in more than 20 years. While we all realize that changes in the names of our journals, which have been revered for decades, may raise some concerns among our loyal readers and authors, we believe that standardization of format and integration into The JAMA Network will justify these changes in the long run.

The creation of The JAMA Network unites 10 journals linked by their commitment to the same high standards of publication, medical and scientific excellence, pursuit and development of outstanding content, and the use of technology to present that content in novel and creative formats. The JAMA Network is well served by our new website, which uses semantic tagging to link articles by concepts rather than words and ensures and reinforces the vision of a network of high-caliber journals. As a group of journals, we are stronger and more flexible. The effect of the Network will be greater than the sum of its parts. The JAMA Network editors are meeting as a group more frequently and intensively to advance our common editorial, scientific, and publishing goals. Manuscripts that are not accepted for publication by one JAMA Network journal may, with the authors' consent, be referred for prompt assessment and consideration by another JAMA Network journal. In addition, information and commentaries about articles published in one journal that have importance and relevance for another journal will be featured across the Network.

What will the future bring for The JAMA Network Journals? We will continue to publish the best content—including original research reports, practical review articles, and scholarly opinion pieces. Our goal is not to be print-centric or web-centric, but rather to be user-centric, regardless of who those users are—authors, researchers, clinicians, educators, policy makers, librarians, journalists, and, in some cases, patients. We will continue to introduce new article types, we are designing more contemporary structured abstracts, and we are considering data optimization in some of our research reports. We envision offering our content in different languages, available in print or on the web, to read or listen to, in short or long form. The goal is to harness the forces of innovation and technologic change to enhance the experience of our users.

While The JAMA Network will continue to evolve, the primary goal will remain unchanged—to provide the best content possible to advance medical science and help improve patient care. We look forward to hearing from you with your ideas and suggestions about The JAMA Network Journals.