Celebrating Editorial Impact in 2023

Positive feedback has been received for the SDG columns and letters to the editor, with readers offering future contributions and commending the cover series and editorial content. The website now includes a sustainable dentistry collection that features content from the BDJ SDG cover series, serving as a valuable resource for the dental community and a reference point for future editorial content and actions in dental practice. The initiative to feature sustainability content in relation to dentistry will continue using this collection as a foundation. Thank you for your attention and we encourage you to visit our site and explore our collections to see our efforts for the future of sustainable industry.

During the talks, our editors discussed various important topics. Joseph Kar spoke about investing in the next generation of early career researchers, while Silva Sivaprasad emphasized the importance of publishing diverse content and improving the diversity of editorial boards. Stephen Hoffman highlighted the significance of special issues to attract content and reviews, and Matteo emphasized the importance of addressing regional priorities. Stephen Hancock discussed the sustainable development goals and their relevance in today's world. All the talks stressed the importance of investing in early career researchers and using journals as a means for societal impact.

Now, let's move on to the Q&A session. While we haven't received any questions in the chat yet, I would like to start the discussion by asking about your experiences with engaging early career researchers. How do you find them and involve them as journal editors across different continents? It would be valuable to hear your insights and practical strategies while we wait for more questions to come in.

One editor shared their experience in the United States, stating that the problem is not receiving submissions from young scientists but rather creating a sense of belonging and independence in the editorial process. They emphasized the importance of transitioning early career researchers into the role of editors through mentoring and acknowledging their contributions. Another editor highlighted the willingness of early career researchers to learn and contribute, making them valuable for activities such as peer review and editorial board membership. They discussed the importance of engaging with the scientific community directly, attending meetings, and identifying up-and-coming researchers. They also mentioned the value of having a presence at scientific meetings and organizing discussions on publishing. Another editor mentioned the advantage of being part of a portfolio of journals, which allows them to cover a wide range of readerships and interests within the dental profession.

Overall, the editors emphasized the importance of investing in early career researchers, finding ways to involve them, and staying up to date with developments in the field.Before the pandemic, we began visiting dental schools to present on how to get published in the BDJ and other publications, with a focus on the BDJ and building a portfolio. We were impressed by the enthusiasm of young dentists and students to not only edit, but also write articles. Our portfolio includes research as well as articles on student experiences, concerns for the future, and dental practice management. The pandemic disrupted our plans, but we have been hosting webinars and are working on a program for future face-to-face visits to dental schools.

A few years ago, we were concerned about finding future talent in dental writing, editing, and journalism. However, we are now overwhelmed by the enthusiasm and talent of young individuals. The quality of their work is exceptional, and it's both inspiring and slightly intimidating. During the discussion, the topic of improving the quality of submissions is raised. One approach mentioned is dedicating time to improve the English language in papers, as language issues can impact how the science is perceived. Implementing a double editor system, where both an associate editor and a senior editor provide feedback on the English language, has made a significant difference in the quality of submissions.

Another speaker highlights the importance of supporting non-native English speakers in the research community. They mention the availability of translation and support tools, as well as the potential for auto-translation tools on submission portals. Encouraging senior authors with good data to publish in the journal is also suggested as a way to improve the overall quality of submissions.

The third speaker emphasizes the use of social media to increase the impact of published work. They mention receiving daily emails from researchers interested in submitting papers and suggest redirecting authors to more appropriate journals within the portfolio. The speaker also emphasizes the importance of diversity in contributions, as it leads to a broader range of perspectives and improves the quality of journals for both authors and readers.

The fourth speaker adds to the discussion by highlighting the importance of having a broad portfolio and publishing a higher volume of papers. This allows researchers to easily identify journals interested in their specific area of research. The speaker also emphasizes the importance of having experts in the field on the editorial board, as authors prefer working with individuals who understand their research and can champion their work.

Overall, the panelists agree that improving the quality of submissions requires a multifaceted approach, including language support, diverse contributions, and engagement through social media and broad portfolios.One thing I wanted to say is that each JVI circle has an impact factor range, and some people aim for a much higher impact factor. However, it will be difficult for those people to achieve it as a standard procedure. That's why I suggest the idea of the editor's choice. We have created a section within the same journal where special articles are selected. This has received positive responses from people who would not normally submit to our journal because they are looking for a higher impact factor. Although our journal has a good impact factor and is highly regarded in our field, it is not at the very top. Implementing the editor's choice section has made a difference and has attracted more submissions. I have seen this strategy used by many journals, and it does make a difference.

I agree with everything that has been said, but I want to caution against solely focusing on the impact factor. There are other important metrics, especially in the clinical field, such as clinical impact and long-term impact. These metrics may not be captured by the two or three-year citation rate. Additionally, impact factors can be manipulated easily. Therefore, we should not place too much emphasis on the impact factor and the prestige of the journal. However, this does not contradict what Matteo said. I completely agree that impact factor carries weight and researchers often aim to publish high impact papers. It is important to consider that researchers publish different types of impactful research.

One of the impacts we have is the reaction we receive from authors. I recently had an author approach me at a meeting and express surprise at the reaction they received after publishing a paper with us. They had previously published in various journals without much response, but after publishing with us, they received 37 emails within an hour, asking for copies and expressing interest in their work. This kind of impact is more important to me than the size of an impact factor number. This author is likely to come back to us and spread the word among their colleagues. Therefore, there are many measures of impact beyond just the number.

In conclusion, I would like to thank our inspirational speakers for their contributions. I hope our editors have enjoyed this session and consider implementing these strategies in more journals. We will provide recordings and a PDF of the session to all participants. Thank you again to our wonderful speakers for their time and expertise.