Putting the BDJ to bed

Twenty-two times a year, usually once every 2 weeks, the British Dental Journal drops through letter-boxes around the world. Some recipients read the Journal cover to cover, others concentrate on specific sections ('Letters to the Editor' are avidly scrutinised), some turn straight to the 'Classified' section and some put it away for 'later on'. Considering the amount of effort put into producing each issue of the BDJ, it would be deflating to think that some recipients skim quickly through it; realistically this must be the case. How many readers, however, stop for a moment to consider how the BDJ came into being? While the actual production of the BDJ is carried out in exactly the same way as any other glossy, colour magazine, whether it be Country Life or Woman's Own, there is a great deal of extra work besides, as it is a scientific journal (see p453). This article looks at who and what are involved in producing an issue, from the perspective of the team in the editorial office.