CMAJ's new deputy editor, news and humanities

Every organization invariably has, and needs, a few of those employees who have that remarkable capacity to juggle a dozen files and duties simultaneously and somehow get the many jobs done.

Good corporate etiquette, in turn, requires employers to test the limits of such a capacity — purely in the interest of personal growth, to be sure —and to that end, CMAJ Editor-in-Chief Paul Hébert has appointed now-former news editor Barbara Sibbald to the newly-minted position of Deputy Editor, News and Humanities.

Figure. Sibbald (left) “does everything with unique charm, wit and style,” says CMAJ editor Paul Hébert. Photo by: Sasa Misak, Zagreb Photos

The award-winning journalist and author assumed the senior editorial position Mar. 19 and is responsible for all non-peer-reviewed content in the journal, including News, The Left Atrium and other sections to be developed as Hébert puts his imprimatur on the publication.

“Barbara is an outstanding addition to CMAJ's leadership team. She brings experience, a unique skill set, a gifted imagination, a strong work ethic and dedication to the new position,” Hébert said. “She does everything with unique charm, wit and style.”

For her part, Sibbald, a reporter and editor in the CMAJ's news section for the past 9 years, appeared elated to be given the opportunity to juggle even more files.

“I'm excited to be part of the editorial team at a time when the CMAJ is growing and moving in new directions, while ensuring its place amongst the foremost journals in the world,” Sibbald said. “We want to develop the news section further by including more investigative reports and focusing more on news that is of direct interest to physicians, including beefing up coverage of medical-legal issues and other subjects pertinent to daily practice.”

Sibbald added that refinements to The Left Atrium will be guided by recommendations that emerge from a forthcoming CMAJ readership survey. “My feeling, at this time, is that physicians want this section to be fun and informative. They want arts and humanities articles that they can relate to. And we want all sections to be lively and thought-provoking, even inspirational.”

Sibbald brings 23 years of journalistic experience to her new position, including stints with publications ranging from Canadian Nurse to This Country Canada. She has freelanced articles for most of Canada's leading media outlets, including The Globe & Mail, Toronto Star, Ottawa Citizen and CBC's fifth estate. Her numerous laurels include 2 nominations for the prestigious Michener Award for meritorious public service in journalism, a 2004 Kenneth R. Wilson memorial award gold medal for best news story and a Canadian Association of Journalists investigative journalism award.

While juggling those many journalistic duties and earning those honours, Sibbald has also found time to author or co-author several works of non-fiction, including the best-selling The Back 40: farm life in the Ottawa Valley and Don't Touch that Keyboard! How to Prevent Repetitive Strain Injury, while editing others, including Dr. John Dossetor's The God Squad: The Rise of Medical Ethics.

Sibbald has also dabbled in fiction over the course of the past 2 decades and recently published her first novel, the widely-praised Regarding Wanda. Her colleagues now fear they are just grist for the character mill of forthcoming novels.