Navigating the Challenges of Health Publications in 2024
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Chapter 1: The State of Health and Science Publishing
As we approach the end of the year, I find myself reflecting on the tumultuous journey of health and science publishing. This moment feels pivotal for Medium, which risks losing a unique publication enriched by over 500 dedicated writers. The current landscape is disheartening for those who value authentic discourse.
Monthly Editorial Update
The community of health and science writers is facing an uphill battle. My commitment lies in providing honest and transparent information, steering clear of embellishment or political maneuvering. Life’s brevity compels us to engage with sincerity, respect, and empathy for all.
The last two years on Medium have presented a rollercoaster of experiences—my account has been impersonated multiple times, faced unwarranted suspensions, and my public health articles have encountered censorship, whether algorithmic or otherwise.
While the community remains vibrant, the platform's management leaves much to be desired. The self-congratulation among the leadership starkly contrasts with my observations as a retired scientist and public health advocate.
This bulletin aims to encourage the leadership team to embrace constructive criticism. By fostering an open-minded dialogue and acting on feedback, they can steer the platform toward genuine success. Conversely, ignoring such insights could lead to impending failure.
Section 1.1: Monitoring Progress
For the past three months, I have been closely tracking the trajectory of my niche publication, Health and Science. The initial month brought tremendous excitement. With just 50 writers, we saw several stories gain traction, including two recognized as Staff Picks. In May 2024, our publication attracted a remarkable 2,000 unique visitors daily, culminating in 48,000 views.
However, the subsequent months revealed a stark decline. Despite welcoming over 500 new writers and 20 volunteer editors in our first month, the boosted stories reduced by half. Consequently, our views plummeted by 8,000, and reads decreased by 4,000, indicating a troubling trend.
Video Description: A heartfelt update on my health journey, reflecting on the challenges faced in the realm of health publishing.
Section 1.2: The Downward Spiral
In July, we curated over 100 stories primarily from qualified healthcare professionals. Yet, despite my nominations for boosting, none of them garnered organic views. The views we received were strictly from my daily curated lists, which were also filtered, resulting in a staggering loss of 14,000 views.
It felt as if the algorithm had effectively sidelined my contributions as a writer, editor, and curator. In response, I downgraded my Friends of Medium subscription to signal my discontent, yet it seems my actions went unnoticed amidst their celebrations of achieving one million paid subscribers.
Chapter 2: Observations on ILLUMINATION-Curated
Video Description: Insights on upgrading your content strategy, inspired by the challenges faced by ILLUMINATION-Curated.
The same disheartening trends are evident at ILLUMINATION-Curated, a well-established publication founded by my mentor, Dr. Mehmet Yildiz. Despite my contributions as a line editor, the acceptance rates for boosted stories have dropped significantly. In June, only 10% of the stories I nominated were accepted, prompting many editors, including myself, to withdraw from the boost program.
Dr. Yildiz and his data science team conducted a thorough analysis of the situation, which led him to resign from his role in the boost nomination process and publicly share his findings.
The publication's performance has mirrored our struggles. In May, we achieved 195,000 views, but by June, that number had declined by 32,000, despite our efforts to publish high-quality content.
In July, we faced another loss of 10,000 views, highlighting a worrying trend as the community grapples with visibility issues.
Informed Conclusions and Call to Action
Many speculate that Medium prefers smaller publications over larger ones, but the reality is that ILLUMINATION has been growing rapidly. With 30,000 new followers last month, our publication stands strong, even as we see a decline in engagement.
The head of distribution and the curation team must address the community's concerns regarding this downward trend. Transparency is crucial, and it's essential to understand what's happening behind the scenes.
My Transparent Plan
As the owner of a niche publication, I invest significant time in reviewing and publishing quality stories at no cost to Medium. My efforts include identifying harmful content, eliminating plagiarism, and creating daily curated lists to engage readers.
However, I’ve reconsidered my plans to apply for a boost nomination role due to the alarming rejection rates. If Medium fails to rectify the current situation, I may have to dissolve the Health and Science publication and transition to Substack, where I can create a new space for our writers.
Thank you for engaging with this update. I remain committed to supporting authentic writers and sharing valuable insights drawn from my extensive experience in public health.
Here are some impactful public health stories I edited, unfortunately rejected for reasons unknown:
- Cellular Responses to Ketosis: Can Cancer Cells Listen and Behave?
- Munchausen Syndrome: The Hidden Dangers of Fabricated Illnesses in Children.
- Why Suicide Rates Are So High Among Farmers & What Can We Do About It?
This is merely a glimpse into the exceptional stories I've edited over the past year. Thank you for your continued support and interest in these vital topics.