Nobels (and less so)
The other day I was talking to some scientists at a meeting, and one of them told me that some journals take advantage of the announcement of the Nobel Prize to send you an e-mail highlighting the papers from the Laureates that they have had the privilege to publish.
I don't know about you but such a marketing strategy strikes me as somewhat cheeky. I don't think there are plans to do the same here at NPG but, if other publishing firms are currently entertaining a similar strategy, here's an idea to turn it on its head -- send e-mails highlighting the papers from the Laureates that your journal has REJECTED and the name of the publication where they were ultimately published.
Hey! Maybe one could even use this information to develop some sort of journal ranking that could complement the infamous impact factors.
It's a shame that confidentiality issues get in the way of such an idea because, if you were to send such an e-mail, people would surely be talking about your journal...
Comments
Mr. Gunn, I couldn't possibly comment.
However, this reminds me of one time in which, according to a friend of mine who used to work at Nature Neuroscience, a very famous Nobelist (if you start naming Nobel Laureates, he will be one of the first five you mention) submitted a Review to his journal.
Apparently, in his submission letter this Nobelist said "My colleague so-and-so (someone you've never heard of) has read it and thinks it's a marvelous contribution". Why would someone as famous as this Nobel Laureate would include an endorsement from anyone at all (let alone an obscure scientist) remains as one of the great mysteries in publishing.
JCL
PS. Nature Neuroscience did publish the review, one of the last ones before the author died (there's another clue for you, Mr. Gunn).
Posted by: Juan Carlos Lopez | October 25, 2007 12:57 AM
So, what Nobelists has Nature rejected? Come on, don't be so coy!
Posted by: Mr. Gunn | October 24, 2007 07:07 PM
What do you know? A senior colleague in the company has told me of plans to do a similar thing with papers from Nobel Laureates published here at NPG, but technical problems got in the way.
Touché!
JCL
Posted by: Juan Carlos Lopez | October 23, 2007 11:44 AM