Editorial Governance of the Journal of the American Medical Association

Abstract

HE JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION has enjoyed an illustrious 116-year history as a peerreviewed medical journal dedicated to the science and art of medicine and the betterment of the public health. When George D. Lundberg, MD, editor of JAMA, was removed from his position on January 15, 1999, there was concern within the medical and scientific publishing communities that his dismissal was a challenge to JAMA's editorial freedom and integrity. To reaffirm the American Medical Association's (AMA's) commitment to the integrity of THE JOURNAL, to maintain JAMA's editorial independence, to protect THE JOURNAL's integrity, and to assist in selecting a new editor, 1 the AMA assembled a search committee and announced its members on January 27, 1999. The committee is chaired by Roger N. Rosenberg, MD, Zale Distinguished Chair in Neurology and professor of neurology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas and editor of the Archives of Neurology.

Conflicts between Commercial and Scientific Interests in Pharmaceutical Advertising for Medical Journals

“…Editorial freedom was at issue; in a later interview with Newsday, commenting on the pressures he endured during his 17 years at JAMA, Lundberg said, "I don't think a day went by in considering what to publish that I and my editorial staff didn't have to worry about offending AMA members, AMA politicians, and the AMA Washington office by what we published" (93). After Lundberg's dismissal, the AMA established a seven-member Journal Oversight Committee to protect the editor from the staff leadership and to allay concerns about JAMA's continued editorial independence (94,95). The Fletchers agree that this arrangement is the "best possible solution to the kinds of problems that might arise between editors and owners.…”

Editorial independence at medical journals owned by professional associations: A survey of editors

“…The products of this effort were the creation of a journal oversight committee, enactment of special protections against dismissal of the editor, adoption of a clear statement that the editor has "total responsibility for the editorial content of JAMA," and the appointment of a new editor. 37,38 The Massachusetts Medical Society also appointed a new editor with the help of a blue-ribbon search committee. 39,40 During the search for a new editor, vigorous debate occurred within the society with regard to governance of the journal and use of its name, logo, and content in other products.…”

JAMA Neurology at the Forefront, 1997-2016

“…It has stayed the test of time and challenge and has been highly effective in maintaining these editorial safeguards. 2 The publication of the initial sequence and analysis of the human genome in 2001 and the advances in molecular biology, neuroscience, immunology, biomedical engineering, functional magnetic resonance imaging, resting-state functional connectivity, salience, and default mode network analyses are paramount advances to appreciate normal brain functions and mechanisms of neurological disease. Neuromics, genomic neurology, has advanced from the database of the Human Genome Project by applying genome-wide association studies, whole-genome sequencing, and whole-exome sequencing to neurological diseases.…”