Annals of the American Thoracic Society Goes Paper: A Fresh Look and a New Feel.
Nearly 4 years after inception, the Annals of the American Thoracic Society (AnnalsATS) is taking two big steps forward. This past November, in conjunction with the other two ATS scientific journals, we launched a newly designed web site that features contemporary graphics and enhanced navigation (Figure 1 and Figure 2). The design of the journal web sites now complements that of the ATS web site. The Web addresses for the journal Web sites are unchanged: a Google search for AnnalsATS directs viewers straight to the journal home page. Those who prefer to read journals on hand-held tablets or cell phones can continue to access AnnalsATS through the free ATS journals app. Beginning with this first issue of 2017, and bucking against a current trend toward online-only publishing of scientific journals, AnnalsATS is to be distributed monthly on paper as well as electronically. Readers of the paper version will be able to highlight and underline contents with a pen or a yellow marker, scribble in the margins, and fold the page corners. Although seemingly light hearted, these rituals may be associated with deeper learning of the material being read. Martin J. Tobin, M.D., a previous editor of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, reported recently on contemporary research suggesting important differences in the experience of readers of electronic compared with paper media, particularly with respect to comprehension and retention (1). The results of other studies have been mixed (2). Nevertheless, many readers find that the tactile sense of a paper publication is rewarding and that it allows for greater comprehension. Indeed, recent surveys suggest that half or more of clinical pulmonary scientific journal subscribers still browse and read selected paper versions to stay current in preference to reading online or electronic Figure 1. The homepage of the newly designed ATS journals website (atsjournals.org).