Guidance for authors writing for Commentary and the RCP website

Writing for Commentary

About Commentary

Commentary is the RCP’s online membership magazine, sharing engaging and accessible perspectives from across medicine. It brings together insights, opinions and experiences from physicians at different career stages and in different specialties, settings and countries.

Our aim is to publish articles that support and connect physicians, highlight useful opportunities and ideas, and explore issues with relevance across the wider medical community. We want readers to find content that is informative, thought-provoking and grounded in the experience of practising medicine. Articles are published online throughout the year and brought together in six editions emailed to members. They may also be promoted through RCP newsletters, events and social media.

Commentary is led by clinical editor Professor Ollie Minton, supported by a clinical advisory group and the RCP communications team. The advisory group helps to shape the publication’s editorial direction and ensure that it reflects the breadth of the physician community. The communications team commissions and develops content, works with contributors and carries out editorial and publication checks. We plan content in advance and commission articles, interviews and features around themes of relevance to members. We also welcome proposals directly from contributors.

We set a clear editorial standard, but we want the process to be supportive and accessible. Contributors do not need previous writing or publishing experience. If we agree to develop your idea, the editorial team will work with you to shape it for Commentary’s readership.

What does Commentary publish?

Commentary publishes:

• features exploring significant issues in medicine and healthcare
• interviews with people whose work or perspective will interest RCP members
• articles sharing practical lessons, ideas or approaches
• perspectives from physicians working at different career stages and in different settings
• international perspectives and updates on the RCP’s global work
• articles connected to planned themes or areas of particular interest to members.

RCP news articles and governance updates are produced by the RCP and are not normally open to external submissions. Articles published in Commentary reflect the views of their authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the RCP.

What makes a strong Commentary article?

Strong contributions normally:

• address a subject with relevance beyond a single organisation, service or specialty
• offer a clear perspective, useful insight or practical message
• explain why the subject matters to physicians
• draw out lessons or ideas that readers can apply or reflect on
• are written in an accessible, conversational style
• reflect experiences or perspectives that will connect with physicians across different career stages and settings
• leave readers feeling informed, supported or better connected.

Articles may draw on evidence or data, but Commentary is not an academic journal. The focus should be on telling an engaging story, sharing an illuminating perspective or drawing out lessons for a broad physician audience.

What is unlikely to be suitable?

Commentary is unlikely to be the right publication for:

• an article of interest only to a highly specialised audience
• an academic research paper or literature review
• promotional content for a commercial organisation, service or product
• an article that has already been published elsewhere
• content that does not have a clear connection to physicians, medicine or the wider healthcare environment
• an organisational update that would be better published as an RCP news story
• a time-sensitive response to a policy announcement or current event that would be better suited to an RCP website blog.

We may consider an article about a local project, audit or specialist subject if it draws out clear insights or lessons that are relevant to a wider readership. Academic research papers should be submitted to an appropriate academic or professional journal, eg Clinical Medicine and Future Healthcare Journal. 

Who can contribute?

We welcome ideas from anyone with a perspective that will be of interest to RCP members and fellows. As Commentary is the RCP's membership publication, we generally prioritise articles written by, or directly relevant to, our members and fellows.

We want Commentary to reflect the breadth of modern medicine. We particularly welcome ideas from contributors whose perspectives have traditionally been less visible, including resident doctors, SAS doctors, internationally trained physicians and members working across different nations, regions, specialties and healthcare settings.

You do not need previous writing or publishing experience to propose an idea. The editorial team can help accepted contributors to develop their articles.

Sending us your idea

Please contact commentary@rcp.ac.uk before writing an article in full.

Your proposal does not need to be lengthy. Please include:

• your proposed subject
• the main point you want to make
• what you would like readers to take away from the article
• why the subject is relevant to physicians
• why the article is timely
• the proposed author or contributors
• details of any high-quality photographs, illustrations or other visual material that you may be able to provide to accompany the article
• any connection to an organisation, campaign, product or service that readers should know about.

We use high-quality photographs and illustrations to help bring articles to life, particularly features. Please do not commission or purchase images before discussing them with the editorial team.

Sending a proposal first helps us assess whether the idea is suitable for Commentary, consider how it might fit with planned themes and editions, and offer guidance on its focus, format and length. Please do not send a completed article unless this has been agreed with the editorial team.

How proposals are considered

We consider proposals based on:

• relevance to RCP members and the wider physician community
• the strength and clarity of the central idea
• likely interest and usefulness to readers
• whether the subject is already being covered
• how the proposal fits with planned themes and editions
• the range and balance of perspectives represented in Commentary
• editorial capacity and publication timing
• alignment with relevant professional guidance and RCP policies. 

Acceptance of a proposal does not guarantee publication of the final article. We may suggest a different focus, format, length or publication channel. The RCP reserves the right to decide what content is published in Commentary and when it is published.

Writing your article

If we invite you to submit an article, we will agree an appropriate length, focus and deadline with you. When writing your article:

1. Start with a clear purpose: be clear about the central idea or message. Ask yourself what you want readers to understand, consider or do after reading the article.
2. Write for a broad physician audience: do not assume that readers work in your specialty or are familiar with your organisation, project or area of practice. Explain specialist terms, abbreviations and organisational language. Avoid unnecessary technical detail.
3. Make it engaging: a strong opening should show readers why the subject matters. Personal observations, examples or experiences can help bring an article to life, if confidentiality is protected.
4. Focus on the reader: draw out the wider implications of your experience or argument. Explain what readers can learn from it and why it is relevant beyond your immediate setting.
5. Use evidence carefully: where you refer to research, statistics or published guidance, use reliable and current sources. Provide links or references so the editorial team can check them. Avoid overstating what evidence demonstrates. Clearly distinguish between established evidence, your interpretation and your personal experience.
6. Keep the structure simple: use short paragraphs and clear subheadings. Aim to develop one main idea rather than covering several subjects in limited space.
7. Write in an accessible style: use plain English and active sentences. Avoid jargon, overly formal language and unnecessary acronyms.

Commentary should be authoritative and thoughtful, but it should not read like an academic paper.

Tone and language

Articles should be:

• clear, accessible and engaging
• constructive, even when addressing difficult or contentious issues
• respectful of different experiences and perspectives
• inclusive of the breadth of the physician and healthcare community
• accurate and proportionate in their claims
• written for a professional but non-specialist audience.

Avoid language that could stigmatise individuals or groups. Use respectful and person-centred language where appropriate. Authors should not make personal criticisms of identifiable individuals. Concerns about organisations, systems or policies should be expressed fairly and supported by appropriate evidence.

Patient and professional confidentiality

Authors are responsible for protecting the confidentiality of patients, colleagues and other individuals. Please do not include information that could identify a patient or another individual without appropriate permission. Removing a name may not be sufficient if details about a condition, location, role, treatment or circumstances could allow someone to be identified.

Where an article draws on a real case or experience, tell the editorial team when submitting your draft. We may ask you to remove or change details, provide evidence of consent or reconsider whether the example can be published. Do not include confidential information belonging to your employer, the RCP or another organisation unless you are authorised to do so.

Consent and permissions

Authors must have permission to include material that they do not own, including:

• photographs
• illustrations
• tables
• charts
• substantial quotations
• extracts from other publications
• unpublished information provided by another person or organisation.

Please tell the editorial team who owns the material and provide evidence of permission where required. If an image includes an identifiable person, the editorial team may require confirmation that the person has agreed to its publication and promotion. Please do not assume that material available online can be reproduced freely.

Accuracy and declarations

Authors are responsible for the accuracy of the information they provide. When submitting your draft, please:

• check names, job titles, organisations and dates
• provide sources for factual claims, data and quotations
• identify any statement that is based on personal recollection rather than a published source
• tell us if the article, or a substantially similar version, has been submitted or published elsewhere
• declare any relevant financial, professional or personal interests
• disclose any relationship with an organisation, product, service or campaign discussed in the article
• confirm that all named co-authors have approved the submitted version.

A declaration allows the editorial team to consider whether an interest should be stated in the published article or whether further safeguards are needed. The editorial team will ask authors to complete an author declaration form before publication.

Editorial review

All articles are subject to editorial review. If your proposal is accepted, the editorial team will work with you to develop the piece. We may:

• suggest changes to the focus or structure
• ask for additional information or evidence
• shorten or reorganise the article
• edit language for clarity, accuracy, accessibility and RCP house style
• propose a new headline, standfirst or subheadings
• remove content that is repetitive, unsupported or unsuitable for
• suggest a different format or publication channel
• ask you to respond to legal, ethical, professional or reputational concerns.

Substantive changes will normally be discussed with the author. However, the RCP retains editorial control over the headline, standfirst, presentation, accompanying images and final published version. The editorial process for Commentary is not academic peer review. Where appropriate, we may ask an RCP clinical adviser, policy lead or subject specialist to review factual or technical content.

Publication and promotion

We will aim to tell you when your article is expected to be published, but publication schedules may change because of editorial priorities, capacity or external events. Articles may be:

• published on the RCP website
• included in an emailed edition of Commentary
• promoted through RCP newsletters
• shared through RCP social media channels
• highlighted at RCP events or through other RCP communications.

Publication in one channel does not guarantee promotion through every channel. We encourage authors to share published articles through their own professional networks. 

Contact us

For Commentary proposals and questions, email commentary@rcp.ac.uk.

For RCP website blogs and comment pieces, email comms@rcp.ac.uk.

Please contact the relevant team before writing a full article. An early conversation can help establish the most appropriate focus, format and publication channel.