Table 1.

Overview of general medical journal podcasts

Journal (Rank, impact factor)*	Frequency, approx length (range), accessibility	Format	Technical quality and listening experience	Link and other multimedia products	Adverts
NEJM (1, 52.589) Subscription required for journal	Every issue (weekly) since November 2005, 15–25 mins, free to access	Content: Summarizes articles in each issue – more recent podcasts also come with PowerPoint slidesPresentation: Single voice	Technical quality: OK but bit of an echoListening experience: dull	http://podcast.nejm.org/nejm_audio_summaries.xmlCurrent weekly issue available on homepage; past issue podcasts archived with contents page for each issue Podcast RSS feed available (most recent four only)Also available via iTunesOther multimedia facilities offered: triallingBeta audio summary with slidesAlso offer ‘Value added services’ to subscription holders only (e.g. video and slideshow)	Yes (sponsored by pharma)
Lancet (2, 28.638) Subscription required for journal	Every issue (weekly) since February 2006, 10 mins (4–42 mins), free to access	Content: Very brief overview of highlights followed by either featured article (interview with authors) or featured theme Presentation: Interview style	Technical quality: OK but bit of an echo and some interview lines slightly poorer quality (background hiss) Listening experience: Variety of voices/interview style more interesting and easier to follow	http://www.thelancet.com/audioAll accessible on single pagePodcast RSS feed availableAlso available via iTunesOther multimedia facilities offered: None	No
JAMA (3, 25.547) Subscription required for journal	Every issue (weekly) since March 2006, 10mins (7–14 mins), free to access	Content: Editor gives detailed summary of main articles in the issue – then lists all the other content Presentation: Single voice narration	Technical quality: OK but bit of an echoListening experience: dull – monotonous voice with little intonation, difficult to tell when one article finished and next started	http://jama.ama-assn.org/misc/audiocommentary.dtlAll accessible on single pageAlso available via iTunesOther multimedia facilities offered: Range including Author in the room – teleconferences and video supplements	No
Annals of Internal Medicine (4, 15.516) Subscription required for journal	Every issue (fortnightly) since July 2007, 20 mins (12–47 mins), free to access	Content: In-depth look at featured article – with interview, plus a summary of everything else Presentation: Uses music and interview style to add interest	Technical quality: OK but bit of an echo – background hiss on interviewsListening experience: Interview style/ voice easy to listen to/interesting	http://www.annals.org/podcast/All accessible on single pageFacility to record comments availablePodcast RSS feed availableAlso available via iTunesOther multimedia facilities offered: Video presentations on guidelines/key topics in Internal Medicine Reports	No
BMJ (7, 9.723) Research articles free online	Periodically since September 2006 – recently about one a month, 10 mins (5–80 mins), free to access	Content: Interview or debate on key policy issues – not directly linked to BMJ issue content Presentation: Interviewer and key figure or debate panel	Technical quality: OK but bit of an echo and volume variable particularly in debatesListening experience: Style easy to listen to – dialogue makes it interesting	http://www.bmj.com/audio/All accessible on single pagePodcast RSS feed availableAlso available via iTunesOther multimedia facilities offered: Range of presentation types linked to CPD and other BMJ products	No
Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (14, 4.654) National subscription	Every issue (quarterly) since January 2008, 3 mins (2–5 mins), free to access	Content: Summary of quarterly update content then individual podcasts for each new/updated review; brief introduction followed by single voice narrationPresentation: Mostly one voice only, sometimes interview style	Technical quality: quality of recording variable; echo with intermittent background hiss Listening experience: Quality of presentation variable, sometimes stilted and amateurish; some accents difficult to follow	http://www.cochrane.org/podcasts/index.htm All accessible on single page together with a link direct to the relevant reviewOptions to bookmark or email the page offeredEmail contact for technical helpPodcast RSS feed availableAlso available via iTunesOther multimedia facilities offered: None	No
Southern Medical Journal (62, 0.998) Subscription required for journal	Every issue (monthly) since April 2006 (discontinued March 2008), 10 mins (6–15 mins), free to access	Content: Very brief introduction followed by short summaries of featured content Presentation: Intro music and single voice narration	Technical quality: OK Listening experience: Delivery of content monotonous – essentially abstracts read aloud	http://www.sma.org/smj/podcasts/index.cfmAll accessible on single pagePodcast RSS feed availableAlso available via iTunesOther multimedia facilities offered: None	No

^*Thomson. Journal Citation Reports^®. 2007 JCR Science Edition (accessed November 2008)