BJOG sold by the RCOG to Wiley

(August 2020)

We are pleased to announce that Bertoli Mitchell advised The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in the sale to Wiley of its world-class research journal BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. Throughout the 117 years since its launch it has been a leading and innovative voice in its specialty, with a 2019 Impact Factor™ of 4.663.  A new 10-year affiliation between the RCOG and Wiley ensures an ongoing relationship between the College and the journal.

The transaction, which was announced today following a competitive process managed by Bertoli Mitchell, includes ongoing access to BJOG as a member benefit, opportunities for the College and its members to provide feedback on the journal and input into its ongoing development, and provision for the College to be involved in future editorial appointments.

Dr Edward Morris, President of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, said:

“For some years, the College has been considering whether continued ownership of BJOG was in the best interests of the journal, given the fast-changing nature of academic publishing and in particular the growth of open access.

“The decision to sell the journal is the result of detailed discussions over the last two and a half years about how we can best support the ongoing development of BJOG both now and into the future.

“After in-depth analysis of all options, following expert publishing advice and discussions at RCOG Council and Board of Trustees, the College ultimately came to the conclusion that a global academic publisher would be best placed to manage BJOG’s transition, due to the breadth and depth of expertise that a specialist publisher would have.

“We are confident that the future of BJOG as a high-quality research journal, and the contribution this makes to the advancement of global women’s health, has been secured following this sale to Wiley.”

Claire Dunn, Executive Director of External Affairs at the RCOG, added, “The decision by the College to seek a purchaser for our flagship journal was not taken lightly and the guidance and advice we received from Bertoli Mitchell was an invaluable part of the process. From assessing our options and managing the tender process to leading negotiations and advising on legal documentation, the expertise that Bertoli Mitchell provided gave assurance to the College at each stage.”