Publications
Author Guidelines — Journal of Insurance Fraud in America
Thank you for your interest in submitting a manuscript for potential publication in the Journal of Insurance Fraud in America. Here are guidelines about content and style to ensure your manuscript has the greatest opportunity for acceptance.
In general. The Journal is the leading quarterly publication of executive-level exploration of, and solutions to, insurance fraud in the United States. The Journal’s primary audiences are leaders such as policymakers, senior executives, academics and others involved with insurance fraud. This is not a how-to, practice-oriented publication. Manuscripts thus reflect the executive-level information needs of our primary leadership audiences.
Topics. The Journal seeks manuscripts covering the full range of topics relevant to our leadership audiences’ interests in fraud. Manuscripts can relate directly to fraud, or cover separate topics that have a clear and direct bearing on this crime. Research, public policy issues, crime trends and other topics are encouraged. We seek manuscripts by qualified authors with a demonstrated experience and expertise in their subject matter.
Objectivity. Manuscripts must be objective and well-documented by cited research and other evidence. But manuscripts with central themes and clear conclusions are encouraged as long as they are supported by properly cited evidence (see Cites below). Manuscript-length documents aren’t purely opinion pieces or editorials.
Frequency. The Journal publishes quarterly on the first business day of Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall.
Length. Manuscripts range from 1,200 minimum to 2,200 words maximum.
Article format. Manuscripts should contain these elements:
Abstract. Each manuscript should start with an italicized summary of the topic, state the conclusion(s), indicate significant data, and point out major findings and conclusions. The abstract should be 100-200 words in length. Use complete sentences, active verbs, and the third person. Include no cites.
Byline. Your byline should immediately follow the abstract. The byline should include your name exactly as you want it to appear in print.
Body text. This includes the full text of your article.
Affiliation. This includes your name, title and affiliation (insurer, college/university etc., and any single distinctive honor such as an academic chair). This will appear as an italicized reference at the bottom of the designed version of your article when it’s published. Examples: John Jones is executive director of the Anti-Fraud Institute, or Mary Smith is dean of the school of fraud research at XYZ University and holds the Jones chair of advanced studies.
Photo. A high-resolution, color digital image of all authors should accompany the manuscript. It should be a formal portrait or dignified rendering, not a casual vacation-style image.
Cites. Articles should include proper cites to buttress objectivity and provide readers with avenues of further exploration. Cites can occur within the body text, or in footnotes. Please follow the Chicago Manual of Style for guidance on proper cite style.
How-to manuscripts. As mentioned, the Journal is read by executive-level audiences. Manuscripts thus are not how-to pieces. However, manuscripts with some how-to content that directly illustrates broader points are acceptable. The how-to content must support larger points being made rather than form the manuscript’s primary editorial goal. Nor should the how-to content comprise the main volume of the manuscript’s content.
Commercial promotion. The Journal will not accept manuscripts that directly promote commercial products or services.
Art. The Journal encourages authors to include charts, tables or other art that might shed light on your topic. We’ll decide whether to accept or revise the art ourselves, or ask you to revise.
Deadlines. Manuscripts must be received at least five weeks before publication. Articles received afterward will be accepted for that issue only if space and editing time allow.
Submitting manuscripts. Please submit all manuscripts and art to jamesq@InsuranceFraud.org. You agree that the manuscript and art are not copyright protected.
Review Process. All manuscripts are reviewed by an editor and/or qualified outside reviewers. Decisions will be made as rapidly as possible, and the Journal will return comments and publication decisions to authors within two weeks of receipt.
Editing. We will edit manuscripts to meet the Journal’s length and style requirements. The Journal follows the Chicago Manual of Style (see Style below). Footnotes and other cites, especially, should conform to the Chicago Manual. We will edit for substance as well; we may rewrite manuscripts ourselves, ask authors to rewrite, or possibly reject manuscripts or delay until a future issue. We suggest you contact us before writing a manuscript to discuss the subject and ensure the best opportunity to be published.
Art. We encourage you to include art, photos, charts, graphs and other forms of art with your manuscript. All art must be of publication quality. By submitting art for publication, you agree that the art is not copyright-protected.
Proofs & Reprints. Proofs of manuscripts will be emailed to the corresponding author before publication. Page proofs are the final version of the manuscript. Except for typos or material factual changes, no changes will be made in the manuscript at the proof stage.
Questions. Contact James Quiggle, editor, if any questions: 202-393-7331.
Style
Style guides. These publications will provide useful guidance in preparing your manuscript:
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For guidance on the mechanics of written communication and cites, consult the current edition of The Chicago Manual of Style (University of Chicago Press).
• For spelling and word usage, the Journal follows the current editions of Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary and Webster’s International Dictionary, Unabridged.
• Active versus Passive Voice. Wherever possible, use active verbs that show what is being done and who is doing it.
Use: The task force broke the staged-accident ring.
Instead of: The staged-accident ring was broken by the task force
Direct versus Indirect Statements. Direct statements are clear, concise, and encourage ease of reading. Indirect statements begin with phrases such as “it should be noted that…” or “it is common that….” Other types of indirect statements may begin with “to be” statements such as “there are” or “it was.”
Use: The legislature passed the fraud bill.
Instead of: It should be noted that the fraud bill was passed by the legislature.
Use: Many normally honest people commit fraud in a recession.
Instead of: It is common that many normally honest people commit fraud in a recession.
Use: Fraud spreads for many reasons.
Instead of: There are many reasons that fraud is spreading.
• Use of “I” and “We”
Use first-person pronouns (I, we, my, our) sparingly, but use “I” and “we” is preferably to awkward wording such as “the authors” or “this researcher.”
If you are the sole author, use “I” to indicate your actions or opinions.
If you are working with coauthors, use “we” to refer to your collective actions or opinions. Use last names to refer to the actions or opinions of individual coauthors.
If you use “we” to refer to yourself and your coauthors, avoid the use of “we” in other contexts, such as referring to other people or humankind in general.
Download the Summer 2011 issue.
