100 YEARS AGO
The Visiting Nurse Is Perhaps the Chief Factor in Prevention
The decrease in pulmonary tuberculosis has been most remarkable. . . . It is almost certain that this decrease has not been due to any one thing but is dependent upon a variety of causes. . . . [M]odern restrictive measures deserve a large share of the credit. These are the sanatorium, the hospital, the preventorium, the dispensary, and, last but not least, the nurse. . . . The visiting nurse is perhaps the chief factor in prevention. . . . If the Nursing Association is unable to finance these the city will have to. . . . It will doubtless be objected that all this is socialism. So it is, and so is our system of public education, and our city water supply and our municipal pier and garbage collection.
From AJPH, September 1916
50 YEARS AGO
Attracting Nurses Back Into Practice
In this country, we are concerned particularly with the existing shortage of registered nurses. To meet the demand in the future, we shall have to greatly expand our baccalaureate degree and graduate school programs. . . . For some reason, we are not attracting into these programs as high a percentage of high school graduates as we should. . . . For the present, however, our greatest source of supply . . . is the large number of persons previously trained but not now working. Some measures which have been successful in attracting nurses back into practice have been the use of refresher courses, placing them in positions close to their homes, convenient working hours, and more provision for part-time work.
From AJPH, September 1966
There we were, six strangers from all over the country, brought together to reinvigorate the online presence of one of the largest public health journals in the world.
As part of their ongoing rebranding, the AJPH team proposed to us the following goal at our initial meeting: to attract, engage, and mobilize younger readership. This was an opportunity to shape the Journal for the next generation: us.
Upon hearing the goal, our initial task was to discuss the Journal’s first rebranded issue. Once Editor-in-Chief Alfredo Morabia shared with us potential cover pictures for a magazine-like feel, we critically analyzed the layout, visual appeal, and messaging. “This picture doesn’t fit the message.” “How will readers respond to this?” “Rewriting this sentence will make more sense.” We lost sight of ourselves, seeing only the solutions. At that moment, we bonded.
We then analyzed the Journal’s social media landscape, (e.g., Web site, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, blog, and an Editor-produced podcast!). Through our discussions with the AJPH production team, we identified gaps and new opportunities to meet AJPH’s goal, including conducting a competitive analysis and creating a media tool kit. We left the meeting with a vision.
Over the next six months, we deliberated virtually. From providing feedback on cover images, to editing op-eds, to sharing insights, we leveraged our collective experiences and expertise to strengthen AJPH’s online rebranding. Recognizing the importance of social media in promoting and strengthening public health, we focused on developing a toolkit to synthesize social media strategies for future campus ambassadors. In it, we covered best practices for AJPH’s online outreach and engagement. This is an ongoing project, and we aim to present this toolkit at the 2016 APHA Annual Meeting in late October.
Over the past six months, AJPH has seen increases in print and online subscriptions, Web site visits (from 10 000–500 000 monthly visits—a 4000% increase), and social media followers. Anecdotal feedback suggests that APHA members are proud and excited about the Journal’s new direction. Moving forward, we expect the Journal to continue informing the public and influencing the next generation of public health professionals.
Personally, being an integral part of the online promotion strategies for one of the most influential public health journals in the world has broadened our vision of public health communication, education, and promotion. For the Journal’s Assistant Editor Fellow Olufunmilayo Makinde, the experience also included recruiting us, as well as organizing and facilitating all of our meetings both at APHA headquarters in Washington, DC, and virtually.
We are passionate about and committed to leveraging the power of collaboration, diversity, and digital technologies in paving the future of public health and team science. Join us in our efforts!