There are many ways a bulletin’s editorial team may thank authors, even if resources are scarce. As was discussed in Chapter 5, a bulletin’s sustainability requires the continued motivation of contributors. Adequate acknowledgement of contributions is a key factor in keeping people involved.

You can acknowledge the author’s contribution by publishing signed articles if this is your bulletin’s policy. An editorial team may also choose a policy of publishing anonymous articles, either to protect authors from pressure or to acknowledge the collective nature of the work leading to a finished article. In this case, the names of all contributors can be published together at the beginning or end of each bulletin. Some bulletins, including the UK’s Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin, prefer to publish an annual list of contributors at the end of the year.

You can pay authors for their work or give them a present, such as a reference book (guide, textbook etc.) or provide them with training sessions. Training is an especially valuable and well-appreciated reward for junior authors. However, many ISDB bulletins have found that purely voluntary writing and/or editing is rarely sustainable. Asking a valued author repeatedly to work for nothing is also embarrassing. Funds need to be found to pay authors and editors.

It is also important to keep the author informed of readers’ responses. These may be enthusiastic or negative. Either way, feedback from readers can be valuable and stimulating if it is analysed collectively.