An embargo is an agreement among author(s) of scientific manuscripts, peer-reviewed journals, and reporters concerning the release of information to the media in advance of a specific publication date. This agreement notes that the author(s) will defer releasing information and that the news media will defer coverage until a specified date set by the publisher of the manuscript, in this case, Tobacco Regulatory Science. The embargo applies to the time between the submission of the manuscript to the publisher and the authorized release of information.
In tandem, the two policies ensure that journal readers will have the full article when the media report on it. Reporters who violate the embargo will be excluded from future embargoed information. Authors who violate this embargo will be prohibited from future publication in Tobacco Regulatory Science.
It should be clear that authors may give interviews to representatives of the media who agree to the Tobacco Regulatory Science embargo. The embargo notes the information is confidential and cannot be made public by the media until a final and corrected PDF has been released and there are no pending fees.
The embargo concept is designed to assure that the information conveyed to broader audiences through these practices is accurate and fairly presented. Researchers should follow these practices when making research results public and not issue premature public statements about their work before Tobacco Regulatory Science has published it.
Ingelfinger Rule
In addition, Tobacco Regulatory Science does not wish to receive manuscripts on work that has already been presented or published in large part elsewhere or contained in a previous publication; therefore, we fully support what is commonly referred to as the Ingelfinger Rule (named for the N Engl J Med editor who created it). Under this rule, Tobacco Regulatory Science considers publication of the scientific manuscript only on the condition that its key substance has not been submitted or reported elsewhere.
A key exception to the rule is presenting material at scientific conferences, congressional hearings or other government proceedings. The data may have been reported at a scientific meeting; however, authors must refrain from presenting or handing out copies of author tables, figures and/or illustrations. It is also acceptable to talk to reporters in these venues; however, comments should be limited to what was addressed in the presentation.