By Gian Luigi Lenzi, David B. Vodušek, José Ferro and Christian Krarup
October 2013
This proposal aims at developing an EAN Newsletter (EANN) including society as well as scientific information. No name is suggested at this point for this publication, and the future EAN Newsletter is referred to as EANN.
We propose that the main frame of the EAN Newsletter will be already prepared in June 2014 for the 2nd semester of the year, in order to give to the new President and new Board plenty of time to decide whatever they want without the risk of discontinuation of the newsletter.
History
ENS had a monthly electronic newsletter “Communications of the ENS” relating news of the society, events, announcements about future congresses, sponsorship, grants, etc. http://www.ensinfo.org/newsletter/index_201210.html
The EFNS has been publishing on a monthly basis “Neuropenews” www.neuropenews.org. since January 2012. It is an online magazine, including information of the society, as well as scientific case reports, discussion of neurological matters. It is a blog; all areas are open for discussion. Persons, who do have a user account (currently all EFNS members + people who are interested and registered themselves on a non-member level) can write comments to all articles that are published.
Current situation:
Christian Krarup and Jose Ferro from the ENS have joined the Editorial Board of “Neuropenews” www.neuropenews.org which by the decree of the leadership of EFNS and ENS has become the newsletter of both societies.
Currently Neuropenews does reach (via e-mail sent out on a monthly basis) 18,000 users and does in fact have 6000 visitors per month.
Potentials:
Theoretically EAN will represent 20,000 neurologists, many of whom located in Eastern Europe, having little possibilities to travel. Therefore the NL has great cultural potentials.
The EAN will include 45 National Neurological Societies and a substantial number of individual members. The numbers of individual members might increase (even by non-Europeans), if this will be the policy of EAN. The EAN newsletter (EANN) would be a necessary instrument to inform members, activate members, and attract new members.
EANN should have a significant impact on keeping neurologists in touch with EAN; thus also strengthen the Connection with EAN journal, EAN guidelines and EAN congresses.
Proposals:
Content:
The EANN will of course focus on Communications of the Society. In addition, it should also include scientific (neurology – clinical neuroscience – neuroscience) related information, as it is felt this would increase the attraction of EANN.
Without being aggressive, the ambition of EANN should aim to become the main European neurological / “clinical neuroscience” news-bulletin, where people would turn to learn about everything newsworthy related to European neurology (in a broad sense).
Technical:
The EANN should follow the good experience with the “blog format” from Neuropenews. This way, it can also be linked to “Social media” – Twitter and Facebook. Also the subscription of RSS feeds should be possible.
Organisation:
For the organisation, scientific content and editorial work, two co-editors-in-chief should be appointed; one of them could be a former “ENS Communications editor” and the other one a former “Neuropenews editor”. The administrative work and publication can be done at the Head Office in Vienna. Depending on the amount of additional work at the co-editor’s offices, each co-editor can ask for a local co-worker.
The Newsletter should include
1. Communications from the EAN:
Here information on upcoming events, grants, future congresses, news from the society, etc. should be included. This column should include information that is published also on the EAN website, but in a short and attractive manner, for persons who do not visit the EAN website on a regular basis. For the transition period we have created a new category and obviously this session is publishing all the material received from ENS under the full responsibility of Prof. Krarup and Prof. Ferro.
2. President’s Page (may also be item 1):
The “President’s letter” is often included in news-bulletins, as it is the perfect way to communicate with the members of a society. It signals the aims, values etc of the society, and provides evidence that the leadership is close to the everyday activity of the society and cares about the members. The October issue of the President’s Page will be co-signed by the two Presidents, Richard Hughes (EFNS) and Claudio Bassetti (ENS). Obviously it will be back to one President’s Page after June 2014.
3. Interviews:
Interviews with opinion leaders, either within the EAN (such as Presidents of National Neurological Societies, Chairpersons of Subspecialty Scientific Panels) and outside the neurological borders, but in close connection with the EAN objectives, perspectives and goals. Insights into the work and activities that are running on the international level should be provided. In this respect, the co-operation with the Liaison Committee and in particular with Ms. Eveline Sipido has to be fully acknowledged.
4. Top Articles:
Since January 2013 the editors have decided to change this section. Every month we are presenting the top 10 scientific publications of the previous 2 years (2010 & 2011) When a scientific publication is showing an outstanding number of quotations, a particular comment to this paper is asked from one „Opinion Leader“ expert in the field. Every 6 months the editors publish in this section a comment on the „hot“ and „cold“ topics.
5. Forum:
This item has so far proved viable and of interest in Neuropenews.
I) It is an open place for any neurological topic arising from daily practice of neurology, education (or receiving education), research, working with other specialities… II) Editors invite members of the EAN committees, Subspecialty Scientific Panel , opinion leaders to send their impressions on current hot topics. III) Before each congress a series of articles from the respective country should be included. IV) Whenever a new EAN guideline paper is published, it should be discussed and presented by the first author within the Forum. V) Readers are invited to send their own observations, comment, article, etc.
6. Grand Rounds/Interactive case:
We would like to underline how the major scientific journals, such as Lancet, are presenting interactive cases that to our experience are very appealing not only to young neurologists but also to nearly retired academics (like Gian Luigi Lenzi). Currently, cooperation with eBrain is sought to use a selection of the interactive cases developed within eBrain to be published in Neuropenews. This should be continued in EANN.
7. Miscellaneous /Communications from outside:
Relevant information on important activities and grants from partner societies that do not fit in any of the other categories, can be published.
8. Calendar of events:
Should be as detailed as possible, since by searching other events, people will be led to the EANN via this tool.
Costs:
Based on costs for Neuropenews, the costs for a future Newsletter for the first year (2014/2015) will be between €20,000 and €30,000. The following years‘ costs will possibly decrease.
