Introducing Proceedings of the ACM

What is PACM?

Proceedings of the ACM on X (PACM) is a journal series suitable for those ACM SIG-sponsored conferences that adapt their review processes to be comparable to those of journals. It was launched in recognition of the fact that conference-centric publishing disadvantages the computer science community when competing with researchers from other scientific disciplines for top science awards and career progression, and the fact that top ACM conferences have demonstrated high quality and high impact on the field.

The PACM series adheres to the following principles:

1. Clear documentation of review process and policy;
2. Minimum of two expert reviewers with written reviews;
3. Reviewers may be drawn from outside the conference Program Committee;
4. Minimum of two-cycle review with opportunity for major revisions reviewed by same reviewers;
5. Specific provisions for conflict-of-interest. 

PACM Structure

PACM is intended to allow the best conferences published by ACM to achieve a level of external recognition commensurate with their quality, including consideration by organizations responsible for maintaining citation indices.

PACM is structured as a series of journal titles, each with a coherent theme and associated with one or several high-quality ACM conferences on related topics. For example, a title such as Proceedings of the ACM on Distributed Computing could be associated with high-quality conferences from several SIGs that address topics in distributed computing.

Conferences whose research articles are published in PACM must abide by the same peer review guidelines that journal papers undergo. In particular, the review process must include:

• at least two written reviews by experts unconflicted with the paper and its authors
• a process that supports bona fide major revisions, where revised papers are re-evaluated by the reviewers of the original submission
• review of complete papers with all the content needed to assess correctness, novelty, and significance of the work

How PACM Works

The operation of each PACM title falls under the purview of the journal editorial board and the sponsoring SIG. The overall PACM series is overseen by the ACM Publications Board through a steering committee with representatives of ACM’s participating SIGs. The steering committee is responsible for reviewing proposals for new and revised PACM titles and for regular review of each title to ensure that its conferences are in compliance with the PACM guidelines.

Each PACM title will be submitted for indexing and has its own metrics such as impact factor should it be accepted by indexing organizations.

Conferences that become part of a PACM title will no longer publish separate proceedings. Rather, their research papers will be published as one or more issues of the PACM title associated with the conference. Such conferences may continue to publish a “companion” or adjunct proceedings for posters, panel abstracts, and other non-research-paper materials.