INANE Conference: Tuesday PM 8/5/25
Speakers:
- Rita Pickler, PhD, RN, FAAN: editor of Nursing Research and professor at The Ohio State University. Former editor of the Research Department for the Journal of Pediatric Health Care and the Journal of Advanced Nursing.
Abstract: Editorials help editors distinguish their journals from other journals. An editorial speaks to readers in ways that scientific or other types of papers cannot, communicating directly with readers about important scientific or professional trends and issues. Editors can also use editorials to issue calls for papers on specific topics and in other ways mark a journal’s (and editor’s) territory. Importantly, editorials should be logical, concise, and timely. They should draw attention to recent developments, stimulate thinking and discussion, and perhaps even engender discomfort, all while educating and questioning received knowledge. For some editors, writing editorials can be challenging, with particular difficulty associated with choosing a topic or focus and setting a tone. This presentation focuses on key elements of editorial writing, including finding timely and important topics and determining the “voice” needed to interest but not offend readers. The presentation will cover resources and strategies for selecting a topic, as well as strategies to use when considering which topics fall within the journal’s mission. The presenter discusses how to use editorials to explain or interpret select papers or ideas, to review and critique current scientific developments, to persuade readers to consider new thoughts or ideas, or to praise authors and others for their work. The presenter also reviews the GRACE (gracious, relevant, accurate, controversial, and engaging) guidelines for writing editorials and will illustrate these guidelines with examples from editorials found in nursing journals. Editorial writing takes thought and work. This presentation will focus on making editorial writing one of the most interesting and rewarding aspects of being an editor.
SUMMARY OF PRESENTATION:
What is the purpose of an editorial?
- Commentary on issues or papers
- Invitations to readers
- Current topics that may affect readers
- Recent developments or changes in the journal or in the world
- Comments about other related topics
Editorial as Commentary:
- Current topics (eg, hot debates in science or nursing)
- Highlight papers (eg, papers you think are outstanding or innovative)
- Commentaries tend to be:
- Opinions
- Interpretations
- Feelings
- Personal reactions
- Evaluations
Editorial as Invitation:
- Dr. Pickler invited people to send letters to the editor about “what is nursing science.” And then she summarized the letters into an editorial and it has lead to great things, like being invited speak at different institutions, etc.
Editorial as Current Event:
- Science changes all the time
- She has tried to pay close attention to what is trending in science
- Topics she has written about include scientific censorship and inclusive language.
- However, a disclaimer is that a current event today might not be current when the letter is actually published. Instead, consider using a blog or social media.
- In January 2020, Dr. Pickler wrote an upbeat editorial for May about Florence Nightingale. Then the pandemic hit, and the editorial no longer seemed appropriate. So, she revised it to match the tone of the times.
Editorial as …..Editorial!
- Her favorite editorial in this style was titled “Please do not impact me.” It was very tongue-in-cheek and she enjoyed writing it.
Bottom line: It’s a good idea to look at your editorials and to balance them as to their purpose and determine if they are consistently meeting the needs of your journal.
Where do you start to get editorial ideas?
- Read the editorials of others
- Listen to presentations and give thought to provocative ideas
- Write about things that matter to YOU.
- Use themes recurrently (eg, Is it a special “month”, like peer review month?, that you could speak to?)
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Key Elements of Editorials:
- The Hook: Make it strong, interesting, provocative, or intriguing.
- Tips: be clear, short, and creative. Hint at the issue to follow.
- The Heart:
- Provide the context
- Clearly state the problem or issue and why it matters to your journal and your readers
- Stay in your lane!
- Build your case and use evidence.
- Be balanced—yes, editorials are opinions, but your opinion is not everyone’s, so at least nod to the other side (and you can even refute the other side while doing it!).
- Understand your topic
- Stay on topic! One clear, challenging or controversial argument is enough
- Channel your inner Hemingway
- The Point:
- Reaffirm the main argument
- Propose a solution or issue a call
- Leave a lasting impression
- This is the hardest part to write
- The Title
- Capture attention and curiosity
- They should be an accurate reflection of the content
- Remember, titles are searched! Use MESH terms in your title!
- Be concise and informative
- If you do this, you can even affect your impact factor!
- You can use ChatGPT to generate titles
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EDITORIAL G.R.A.C.E.:
- G-Gracious: respectfully discuss strengths and weaknesses
- R-Relevant: opinion relevant to readers
- A-Accurate: cite and speak accurately
- C-Controversial: express and advance ideas thoughtfully
- E-Engaging: know your readers
Resource: van Teijlingen et al. (2022) “The art of the editorial” from the Nepal Journal of Epidemiology
Discussion with attendees:
- Title your editorials! And make sure you are listed as an author!
- Leslie Nicholl believes editorials should be open access because they are very good advertising for your journal!
- Draw people to your journal by giving them ideas about what your journal is all about in your editorials.
- Faculty: consider assigning editorials to read to your students. It can help foster attachment to different journals.
Your INANE 2025 reporter is Melissa Anne DuBois, BSN, RNC-OB, PhD Student.
Content for this post was obtained from the INANE 2025 website, the conference guidebook, internet searches, speaker submitted bios, and live reporting from each session. Any errors in content are purely accidental and not intended to offend. If you notice an error you would like corrected, please contact Melissa Anne at melissadubois2 at gmail dot com and she will be happy to make corrections.