Allen Lichter, MD, FASCO
It has been 5 years since ASCO has been part of a new publication, the last being the Journal of Oncology Practice (JOP). As the ASCO Board and leadership evaluated the publication mix we recognized there was a gap that needed to be filled. The Journal of Clinical Oncology (JCO), now 25 years old, is the field’s flagship journal for presentation of clinical oncology research. JOP is making great strides to become the key journal for the complex issues involved in the actual practice of oncology. ASCO News and Forum, soon to morph into the ASCO Connection, speaks to our members about ASCO programs and issues. Finally, we communicate to the membership every other week though a comprehensive e-mail newsletter, the ASCO Express, which summarizes timely issues and announcements. There was healthy debate and controversy surrounding the creation of each of these publications. None of them was guaranteed success; their place in the world had to be earned. These publications are rigorously evaluated every few years to make sure they are upholding the standard the ASCO Board and leadership have set: to be associated with only the finest publications for our members. It was into that context that we began discussing an oncology newspaper.
A Publication for the Entire Oncology Community
What we saw lacking was a publication targeted to the entire oncology community, covering broad areas of multidisciplinary oncology with thoughtful commentary from leaders in the field. While ASCO has over 28,000 members from over 100 countries, 23,000 of them physicians, the world of oncology is far larger. We believe that every oncology professional should be a member of ASCO, and, in a subsequent editorial, I will explain why. But until that happens, and as part of a strategy to facilitate that happening, ASCO wants to add its name to a vehicle communicating to the field of oncology writ large. Enter The ASCO Post.
The ASCO Post will be published by our colleagues from Harborside Press. The team at Harborside Press brings years of experience as successful publishers in the field of oncology. Under their direction, and with the editorial leadership of former ASCO President, Dr. Jim Armitage, The ASCO Post will summarize and comment on the latest research findings, not only from ASCO’s meetings and journals, but from other venues as well. Policy and advocacy issues relevant to oncology will be highlighted in ways we have not been able to do so in ASCO publications. ASCO events as well as events from other organizations can be noted. We are confident that the readers of The ASCO Post will find this an engaging and informative publication.
Plus, in each issue, selected pages will be dedicated to content that is “Direct From ASCO”. The content on these pages will be provided by the Society and directed to ASCO members and other health care professionals who may be interested in joining ASCO.
There are five other oncology “tabloid” newspapers publishing today, and we know there will be stiff competition for your attention and your eyes. The Board wants ASCO to be associated with the finest publication of its kind. We are determined that The ASCO Post will meet this challenge. We welcome your comments and feedback at any time. In the meantime, please enjoy reading the inaugural issue of The ASCO Post!
—Allen Lichter, MD, FASCO
ASCO Chief Executive Officer, 2006–2016
