Journals, Public Health

Publishing in public health takes place in many forms, but the most common prestigious format is an article in an academic public health journal. A journal is a regularly published scholarly, peer-reviewed or refereed publication. Journals traditionally have been produced in print format, but most publishers now offer online electronic versions of their journals as well. The realm of public health journals is as diverse and multidisciplinary as the field of public health itself. Articles relevant to public health researchers and practitioners are found in the major medical journals, in journals in the social sciences and psychology, in the statistics literature, in the environmental and nutrition literature, and in journals specific to the field of public health and its specific disciplines.

Public health professionals read journals to keep up with current trends and events and to get help in making decisions and developing programs based on the best available information. The articles are generally written by their peers in public and private institutions, academics, government, or policy organizations and think tanks.

Authors looking to publish articles likely take several factors into consideration when deciding on appropriate journals for their work: the appropriateness of topic to the subject scope of the journal, the prestige and reputation of the journal, and the readership of the journal. Subject-specific journals are unlikely to have the same level of prestige and reputation as journals with broader coverage such as the New England Journal of Medicine or, less broadly, the American Journal of Public Health. However, a carefully selected subject-specific journal may be a better venue for an article, and the article may be more readily accepted. The author may also consider how the journal evaluates articles—for example, whether a peer-review or refereeing process is used. Similarly, those developing personal or institutional libraries of public health journals will seek journals with an appropriate subject scope, intended audience, and reputation to meet their needs.