The 2024 Asia Pacific Association of Medical Journal Editors (APAME) Conference took place in Newcastle, Australia, from August 28 to 30. Since its inaugural meeting in Seoul, Korea, in May 2008, the APAME conference has been held annually with the aim of improving public healthcare services by facilitating the spread of health-related information through medical journals across the Asia-Pacific region. This nonprofit, nongovernmental organization brings together over 200 medical researchers, journal editors, publishers, librarians, and other stakeholders involved in medical journal publishing from 37 countries in the Western Pacific region. APAME fosters medical journalism in the Asia-Pacific by providing a platform for education and the exchange of ideas. It also collaborates with various global organizations, including the World Health Organization (WHO), to fulfill its mission.

This year’s conference was held in Newcastle, a city located approximately 3 hours north of Sydney. Despite its modest population of around 300,000, Newcastle is a vibrant city, well-known for its bustling commercial and industrial sectors, as well as its beautiful beaches. The city boasts a robust industrial base, with industries in shipbuilding, electrical machinery, glass, and cement. It also features stunning beaches, extensive parks, and wineries that produce high-quality wines from grapes cultivated in its sunny climate. The conference took place at the Hunter Medical Research Institute, which is affiliated with John Hunter Hospital. Newcastle’s history of early industrial activities, including coal mining, cargo transport, and manufacturing, has fostered a long-standing interest and research focus on environmental pollution. The Hunter Medical Research Institute is the largest research institute in New South Wales, managing approximately 1,600 active research projects, which include clinical trials and animal studies.

On the morning of August 28, I attended the Western Pacific Region Index Medicus (WPRIM) Regional Journal Selection Committee (RJSC) meeting. WPRIM is a database that gathers and disseminates health-related research products and information from countries in the Asia-Pacific region. Currently, it includes 692 journals from 13 countries, all registered as WHO member journals. The goal of WPRIM is to share a wide range of medical research findings and health data from the Asia-Pacific region, providing resources essential for developing healthcare systems and formulating health-related policies. The RJSC is responsible for selecting journals that significantly contribute to health promotion and medical research in the Asia-Pacific region.

The main topics discussed at the WPRIM RJSC meeting included the approval process for journal indexing in WPRIM from contributing countries. This year, five countries—Korea, China, the Philippines, Japan, and Singapore—submitted updates for their national journals. Korea applied for the new registration of 27 journals, 45 title changes, and 8 discontinued journals, all of which met WPRIM’s selection criteria and were promptly approved. This highlights that the journal evaluation criteria of the Korean Association of Medical Journal Editors align with international standards. As of 2024, a total of 277 Korean journals are indexed in the WPRIM database, making Korea the second-largest contributor after China, which has 309 journals. We also received many expressions of gratitude for uploading numerous journals to WPRIM, thereby enabling free public access to the published papers. Additionally, the Global Index Medicus Portal of WPRIM was introduced as a newly developed index aimed at expanding access to regional health-related journals and knowledge worldwide. The Global Index Medicus provides three free library services: the Institutional Repository for Information Sharing, a multimedia library, and WPRIM itself. This portal allows free public access to research publications that are difficult to access through conventional indexing.

The afternoon session included the APAME general assembly, during which we reviewed the minutes from the previous year and examined activity reports from APAME’s four standing committees: the Education and Training Committee, the Ethics and Editorial Policy Committee, the IT and Library Committee, and the Website Committee. Following the meetings, we gathered at a hotel bar on Newcastle Beach for an enjoyable event. There, we indulged in beer, local wine, and exquisite cuisine, in the company of medical journal publishing professionals from various Asia-Pacific countries.

The following day, the conference featured eight keynote speeches, along with panel discussions, workshops, and oral presentations. The discussions emphasized the importance of expanding and developing medical journals in the Asia-Pacific region, aligning with APAME’s vision for the 21st century. Participants explored how stakeholders in medical journal editing could contribute to providing accurate and reliable medical knowledge. During the peer review session, participants shared numerous insights about review methods, key considerations for the peer review process, and steps necessary to enhance the quality of the peer review system to ensure its smooth operation. There was also significant discussion on ways to elevate the medical journals published in Asia-Pacific countries to achieve global recognition and respect, in line with the founding purpose of APAME (Fig. 1). After concluding the day’s agenda, an evening cocktail party was held at the conference venue, where attendees enjoyed wine and cocktails while fostering camaraderie around shared goals and visions.

On the last day, the session focused on artificial intelligence (AI) featured discussions about how AI technologies impact medical research, the peer review process, and journal editing. Participants examined the current advancements in technology and anticipated the further widespread use of these tools in the future. A lively discussion ensued regarding the role of medical journal editors in ensuring the ethical and transparent use of AI. I participated as a panelist in a session titled “Impact of AI on Academic Writing and Publishing: An Exploration of Challenges, Tools, and Technologies,” where I exchanged views and engaged in discussions with attendees (Fig. 2). AI facilitates efficient searching and organizing of large datasets, thereby accelerating the pace and efficiency of research progress. Additionally, AI tools can help detect plagiarism and data manipulation, reducing the risk of violations of research publication ethics. They also facilitate the selection of appropriate reviewers and assist in articulating review comments, contributing to post-publication marketing efforts. However, issues such as the inequitable use of AI tools, breaches of confidentiality, and the potential for biased information must also be carefully considered. While the use of AI tools in the review process is gradually increasing, it is important to recognize that this could conflict with the obligation to maintain confidentiality regarding the content of manuscripts. Furthermore, it was emphasized that the author remains responsible for ensuring the neutrality and scientific integrity of the manuscript.

In addition, editors from prestigious journals such as the Medical Journal of Australia, The Lancet, Gut, and Gastroenterology participated in an open floor discussion titled “Editor’s Secrets Everyone Would Like to Know.” This session was particularly engaging, featuring a candid exchange of questions and answers between researchers and editors regarding various real-life scenarios encountered in editorial offices, as well as insights they wished to share with researchers and reviewers. The panelists provided practical advice on increasing the likelihood of manuscript acceptance, which extended beyond simply adhering to submission guidelines, making it an invaluable session for researchers. For example, while the quality of the manuscript is crucial, crafting an effective cover letter is equally important. This involves clearly articulating the unique aspects of the manuscript and explaining why it merits publication in the specific journal. When dealing with a challenging review, it is recommended to refrain from responding immediately and to take time to consider the feedback received, while always respecting the decisions of both the reviewers and the editors. Moreover, when authors appeal a rejection decision, it is vital to recognize that overturning the editorial board’s decision is typically challenging; therefore, it is advisable to allow time for thoughtful consideration rather than rushing responses. Due to the challenges that editors face in recruiting reviewers, the speakers emphasized the importance of investing more effort in nurturing early-career reviewers to support the development of journals. As stewards of their journals, they reflected deeply on the impact of the papers they choose to publish, considering both the advancement in medicine and the messages conveyed to the medical community.

At the closing session, the “Sydney Declaration on Predatory or Pseudo Journals and Publishers” was presented. This declaration has been published in the editorial of the Medical Journal of Australia’s September 2024 issue [1]. This declaration was issued by APAME in response to growing concerns about the damage inflicted by predatory journals. APAME is committed not only to avoiding predatory journal practices but also to making every effort to educate and empower editors, peer reviewers, authors, librarians, and ethical publishers to minimize their impact. Additionally, APAME is dedicated to building collaborative networks, hosting meaningful meetings, and organizing participatory events to help these stakeholders recognize and avoid engaging in predatory publishing practices.

With the conclusion of the 3-day APAME schedule, we took a commemorative photo with all participants and promised to meet again in Ooty, Tamil Nadu, India, in 2025 (Fig. 3). This marked my second attendance at the APAME conference, following last year’s event. The conference provided an opportunity not only to acquire knowledge about the latest developments in medical journal publishing but also to exchange effective strategies for advancing individual medical journals and addressing the common concerns of all medical journal editors. Additionally, it was significant as we shared our advanced medical research findings with researchers from Asia-Pacific countries, contributing to the improvement of healthcare. This occasion also reaffirmed our commitment to fostering stronger collaboration in the future. I take great pride in the fact that APAME originated in our country and that we have continuously made significant contributions to the APAME conference and the establishment of the WPRIM database. I look forward to even more active exchanges in the future.

Notes

Conflict of Interest

No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Funding

This work was supported by a travel grant from the Korean Association of Medical Journal Editors.

Data Availability

Data sharing is not applicable to this article as no new data were created or analyzed in this study.

Acknowledgements

The author appreciates Professor Dong-gun Lee, Chairman of the Committee of Evaluation, and Ms. Hyo-jin Lee for their diligent efforts in ensuring that many Korean medical journals could be uploaded to the Western Pacific Region Index Medicus database.

Supplementary Materials

Fig. 1.

The Asia Pacific Association of Medical Journal Editors 2024 Conference held on August 28–30, 2024.

Fig. 2.

Panel discussion during the “Impact of AI on Academic Writing and Publishing: An Exploration of Challenges, Tools, and Technologies” session.

Fig. 3.

Group photo after the Asia Pacific Association of Medical Journal Editors 2024 general assembly.

References

• 1. Talley NJ, Barbour V, Lapeña JF, Munk PL, Peh WC. The rise and rise of predatory journals and the risks to clinical practice, health and careers: the APAME 2024 Sydney declaration on predatory or pseudo journals and publishers. Med J Aust 2024;221:248-50.https://doi.org/10.5694/mja2.52410. ArticlePubMed

Figure & Data

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