From tradition to transition – the evolution of Pharmacology Matters

Published: 23 Jan 2025
Category:
By Professor Steve Tucker

Having demitted as the Editor-in-Chief from Pharmacology Matters at the end of 2024, I have since reflected on my time as part of the magazine and its journey over the last decade. While externally we have navigated Brexit and a global pandemic, Pharmacology Matters too has shape-shifted from a traditional hard copy magazine mailed to the eager BPS membership, to an online stream brimming with varied continuous content.

As my time steering the Good Ship PM ends, I wanted to chart the course taken to ensure PM remained buoyant, accessible and relevant to a membership existing in an increasingly digital world. 



I recently tracked down my initial correspondence with the Pharmacology Matters teams to a series of enthusiastic email exchanges almost 11 years ago to the day with then Guest Editor Graeme Henderson. Here, I enquired about membership of the editorial board and demonstrated my keenness by submitting a draft of my first article EARLY! Success with both editorial board membership and article submission (despite some brutal feedback – thanks Graeme!) sparked my enthusiasm for PM – and the flame remains undimmed to this day.

The hard copy approach continued unabated, though some transformations in terms of content delivery were used alongside e.g. electronic flipbook versions or emailed PDF copies along with a highlights email to pique interest. At this time, it wasn’t clear what PM was: a traditional magazine or a digital newsletter attempting to connect an increasingly diverse and international membership.

This hiatus continued as the world began to lockdown and digital solutions became the topic of every conversation and prompted the transformation of PM into an entirely digital format. Here, articles were presented as individual digital tiles that readers could select to read. At this time, I was deputy editor-in-chief, serving with the amazing Margaret Cunningham as editor-in-chief, and despite our nerves at this leap into a fully digital format – it proved successful and matched with the migration of many other aspects of our lives into an electronic version e.g. teaching, meetings, family quizzes. The hidden advantage of this new approach were the data that could be analysed around articles, which prompted a content overhaul and a sharpening of the PM focus around what proved popular amongst our readers.

The new analytical prowess that the digital format provided led to the emergence of some very popular PM initiatives e.g. the writing competitions and Pharmacologist in Phrame (Aisah Aubdool’s brainchild). My term as Editor in Chief was characterised by further transition from issue-based delivery to streamed continuous content, catalysed by the overarching BPS vision and the energy of incoming BPS Communications Manager, Chloe Gynne. This approach develops and releases content continuously to match consumer behaviour and to allow real time adaptation to what is happening in pharmacology and the broader world. It includes varied media ranging from long form articles to short form blogs and focuses on more dynamic content (e.g. video) to engage, education and entertain the membership in new and imaginative ways. A prime example of the latter is the new PharmaComedy competition suggested by Alistair Corbett and Graeme Henderson (who oversaw my fledgling interactions with PM over a decade ago).

So, as Aisah Aubdool takes over as EiC of the BPS content stream (née PM) it retains its place as a relevant, important part of the BPS community, and its future is in very good hands!

Comments

Comments
Blog post currently doesn't have any comments.

If you are a British Pharmacological Society member, please sign in to post comments.

About the author

Steve Tucker

Steve Tucker is a Professor of Pharmacology Education at the University of Aberdeen, where he runs the UG and PG Pharmacology degree programmes. At the BPS is Vice President - Academic Development, chairing the Education and Training Committee, and a member of the Inclusive Pharmacology Education Steering Group. He was Editor in Chief for Pharmacology Matters, 2023-4, and continues to support as part of the content board. He is also an editor for the BJP and a BPS ambassador coordinator.  

Post archive

No data found