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Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2017; 65(06): 431
DOI: 10.1055/s-0037-1606253
Editorial
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

An Editorial on Editorials

Markus K. Heinemann
1   Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, Universitaetsmedizin Mainz, Mainz, Germany
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Publication History

Publication Date:
06 September 2017 (online)

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Thinking in terms of journalism, an “Editorial” is either a preface of a journal issue or the leading article in a newspaper or magazine. In any case editorials are supposed to reflect the opinion of the author, rendering them subjective pieces of information. They are therefore rather uncommon in scientific journals. Here, readers are more likely to be influenced by Invited Commentaries or Editor's Commentaries, which accompany an article, often a controversial one, with the aim to attract attention and to stimulate further discussion in the form of Letters-to-the-Editor.[1]

The first Editorial, then coyly still called a “Letter from the Editor,” I wrote for The Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgeon was published in the first issue I was responsible for after having been elected as Editor-in-Chief: issue 4/2010. It bore the title, “The Baton is Passed” and briefly outlined future plans and visions of the journal.[2] Ever since, I have made it my routine task to precede each issue with an Editorial. Much to my surprise, they even seem to be read.[3] During the months of May to July 2017, a particularly silly one of these little pieces even made it into our 10 most-read articles.[4] [5] I am not quite sure what that means with respect to the journal, but I would like to take it as a positive signal to continue.

The regular readership will have noticed that these Editorials vary greatly in length, style, and subject choice. Up to now, they have included opinions on topics covered in the respective issue, on more general medical themes (such as the TAVI debate), on editorial matters (such as this one), but also cooking recipes and travel reports. The Editorials have, however, one thing in common: they are highly subjective and express the view of the author, not that of the scientific societies behind or the publisher of the journal. In this regard, they can be considered a proof of editorial independence which is the most valuable asset this position holds. Editorials also tell the readers something about their authors. So, although I am usually rather reclusive about private issues, readers can still get some impression of what kind of person the Editor-in-Chief is. As he is the one fully responsible for the journal as such, this is rather important information. Judging by the steady increase in article downloads and citations, our readers currently seem to enjoy what they are receiving. For the time being you will, therefore, have to keep enduring Wiseacre's outpours. Sorry for that.

PS: Dear Journal Citation Reports, the author is completely aware of the rather inappropriately looking number of self-citations. This, however, was unavoidable because of the subject and hopefully will not influence your future calculations in a negative way. Thank you for your understanding.