AJCP and Laboratory Medicine Shift to Online Only, Ushering in a New Wave of Academic Publishing

Over the past decade, academic publishing has undergone a significant shift. Traditional print journals are becoming increasingly rare as more of them move to online-only publication, meeting the needs of readers who want access to research at their fingertips and a more personalized reading experience. This transition brings forth a paradigm shift in how knowledge dissemination happens and unlocks opportunities for increased accessibility, global reach, environmental sustainability, and interactivity. As we move deeper into the digital age, the benefits of moving to a digital-only format are increasingly evident.

The American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) is pleased and excited to make this shift to online-only publication with the American Journal of Clinical Pathology (AJCP) and Laboratory Medicine. Starting in January 2024, these two journals will be available in digital format only, and the informative and comprehensive content you’ve come to expect will be available through each publication’s website: www.ajcp.com and www.labmedicine.com.

Online-only publication offers a multitude of benefits for subscribers. First, online-only journals can better break down geographical barriers, bringing knowledge and research to a broader global audience. Traditional print journals are often constrained by physical distribution, while online platforms make information more readily available to all, particularly those in developing countries who may have previously struggled to access the latest research. As leaders in pathology and laboratory medicine, it is our duty to ensure that we are disseminating and sharing our knowledge via the best and broadest possible paths to ensure we are able to provide the highest quality care to patients, no matter where they are.

Second, online-only publication eliminates the lengthy publication timelines of traditional print, distribution, and mailing. Lead times are significantly reduced, and readers will have access to new research the day it is published. As laboratory leaders and scientists, being able to share findings faster accelerates scientific progress and innovation.

Importantly, online publications allow for more dynamic ways of presenting and engaging with research. We can expand the reach of findings, and further understanding of how that information will benefit the laboratory and our patients, through the use of multimedia elements, creating a more immersive learning experience.

We also must acknowledge that the move to online-only publication is a step toward addressing an issue that has become prevalent in the laboratory: sustainability. Laboratories everywhere are working to minimize and mitigate their impact on our environment. The move to online-only publication is one way that ASCP is doing our part to further the influence of the laboratory and do so in a sustainable fashion.

We are putting in place processes to help make this transition as seamless as possible, and readers will receive information on how to access the journals, how to set up your own specialty alerts, and more in the coming months.

We are excited for this new era of digital publication, and all that it can bring with it. It is an opportunity for pathology and laboratory medicine to capitalize on the groundbreaking scientific content that will help expand the knowledge base of our profession. This new era will foster an expanded and effective vision for the laboratory’s role in healthcare for the future, and ultimately solidify us in being STRONGERTOGETHER.