About our magazine

ASBMB Today is an award-winning news magazine published by the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. It is updated online daily and free for all to access. It is distributed in print to ASBMB members 11 times a year. Join ASBMB to receive the print edition.

Over the past two decades, ASBMB Today has become a valued source of news, features and perspectives that reaches readers far beyond the biochemistry and molecular biology community. 

About our content

The magazine publishes:

• news and commentary on budgetary and legislative issues
• profiles of emerging and established scientists
• investigative reports on scientific controversies
• articles about recent trends in biochemistry and molecular biology
• reports about new research projects and findings
• personal essays by scientists and science students
• instructional, opinion and advice articles about education, diversity in science and professional development

About our readers

Though most ASBMB members are academic research scientists, our online readership includes students, science communications specialists, policymakers, educators and others who are interested in biomedical research. Writers should write for scientifically literate readers but not necessarily practicing scientists — and certainly not specialists.

About our writers

Articles from ASBMB members and others in the life sciences community are welcome. (See calls for submission below.) Please browse recent issues of the magazine to see if your article idea is a good fit before contacting us. 

 ASBMB Today also works with budding science writers. Send a letter of interest to the managing editor at asbmbtoday@asbmb.org. Use the subject line "Joining contributors program."

Tell compelling stories

We believe in good storytelling. You should weave descriptive, vivid scenes with factual, informative passages. In other words, aim for more “showing” than “telling.” In addition, quotes bring stories alive. Consider using quotes from sources you have interviewed or from materials you’ve used in your research to convey information in interesting and lively ways.

Stay true to your authorial voice

We aim to maintain a professional yet conversational tone. We especially encourage first-person narratives. We discourage stilted, convoluted and passive constructions. If you’re in doubt about something you’ve written, try reading it aloud or enlist a colleague to do so. If it sounds natural, you’ve hit the right note. If it doesn’t sound like your true conversational voice, rewrite it.

Choose an effective format

Any story can be told in a number of ways, and we encourage you to consider using untraditional formats to tell yours. For instance, a Q&A or top-10 list, in some cases, is more effective than a straight news story. You should use lists, subheadings, images, multimedia and boxed nuggets to attract readers and simplify complex information. Also remember that most of your readers will read your article on a mobile device. If you don’t hook them in the first few sentences, you’re going to lose them. Choosing the right format can help you with this.

Authorship

ASBMB Today believes in giving credit where credit is due. Co-writing is allowed by a maximum of three authors, under the following conditions. First authorship is reserved for the writer who contributed the most to the article. Other bylined authors must have contributed significant shares. Those who contribute only feedback or editing can be acknowledged at the end of the article in an author’s note but will not get bylines.

Cite your sources

ASBMB Today is a news magazine, not a scientific journal, so it does not use references. Use in-text attribution of sources. You can also add hyperlinks for the online version. And remember: You are allowed to say some things on your own authority without citations.

Final tips

• Use simple, declarative sentences. Do not use passive or complicated constructions.
• Avoid jargon.
• Avoid excessive use of acronyms.
• Introduce new concepts one at a time and in bite-size nuggets.
• Numbers can be numbing. Use them judiciously.
• Include visuals that help tell your story.        
• Use analogies and examples to show rather than tell.
• Communicate the relevance to those in other unrelated fields.
• Writing for ASBMB Today is a voluntary endeavor. We will repay you with kindness, good humor and reprints upon request.

Editorial decision-making

All articles are edited according to the Associated Press style guide and fact-checked by sources prior to publication. Final editorial decisions are made by the ASBMB Today staff.