The Reports and Documents (DOC) unit is responsible for the production of information materials, including editing, formatting and design. The latter functions are carried out by the Text Processing and Designing (TPD) unit. (Material should not be sent directly to TPD but through DOC for routing and quality control.)

DOC also provides assistance and advice to technical units and country offices in the design and production of publications, as well as outsourcing, and is the secretariat of the Publishing Policy and Procedures (PPP) working group.

Manuscript preparation checklist

The manuscript preparation checklist [PDF 149KB] does not replace the WHO style guide but is meant as a quick reference tool for staff and freelancers to make sure manuscripts follow style guidelines. This checklist covers major style points and most common errors in the preparation of manuscripts for publication.

It is meant for the use of both WHO staff and for distribution to external contractors and APW-holders, to help ensure that editorial production conforms to the Organization’s standards and style.

Publishing Policy and Procedures (PPP)

The Publishing Policy and Procedures working group was established “to ensure a quality process in the production of information products”. For new publications, particularly those with policy implications or new data, a proposal should be submitted to PPP for approval through the Secretariat, DOC. The data sheet for proposed publications can be downloaded here [MS Word 43 KB] 

The PPP is chaired by the Deputy Regional Director with all department directors, EHI and IMD as members.

Publication schedules

A spreadsheet [MS Excel 20 KB] has been created for departments to record publications planned for 2008. They should be submitted to the PPP through the secretary.

Addresses and Messages

Guidelines have been issued for the writing of addresses and messages by the Regional Director.  They describe how text should be formulated depending on whether a speech will be delivered by the Regional Director or by someone else on his behalf. Information Circular [PDF 25 KB]

Authorship

Manual provision 8.5, which describes rules governing publications by staff in the course of duty as well as outside WHO, are available here. [PDF 25 KB]

Copyright

WHO staff are responsible both for protecting WHO’s copyright and for ensuring that the copyrights of others are respected when material is excerpted or reprinted (including graphs, tables or photographs reproduced in WHO publications). WHO owns copyright in work produced by staff and APW-holders in the course of their duties. Guidelines on copyright, correct use of the WHO logo and approved disclaimers are available from the WHO Headquarters website.