6minutes is an online newsletter and website for Australian doctors, including general and specialist practitioners, published by Reed Business Information. It's been developed in response to the rapidly changing face of journalism, the growth of the Internet, the trend to interactivity online and doctors ' complaints of being deluged with information from multiple sources.

Executive Editor of 6minutes, Dr Linda Calabresi is a practising GP in Sydney. Linda studied medicine at Sydney University graduating in 1984. Following internship and residency at the Royal Newcastle Hospital, she and her GP husband moved to the small rural town of Gloucester where she lived and practised for nine years. On returning to Sydney in the late 90s, Linda combined urban general practice with medical publishing, originally joining Australian Doctor in 1998. Since then Linda has worked in various roles in various medical publications, most recently as editor of Medical Observer. As well as her current position as executive editor of 6minutes, Linda also writes a weekly column for the Weekend Australian, edits the publication, Pathway for the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia, is in part-time general practice and is a member of the Sexual Assault Service team at Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney

Originally from the UK, 6minutes editor Michael Woodhead has worked as a medical journalist for more than 15 years. A pharmacology graduate, Michael worked in the pharmaceutical industry before becoming an editor with MIMS in London. He since has worked for GP and Pulse in the UK, Medical Tribune in Hong Kong and New Zealand Doctor before making the move to Australia in 1996. He has worked at both Australian Doctor and Medical Observer and writes occasionally for The Sydney Morning Herald.

We hope the newsletter and website will be complementary to, but offer something slightly different than, traditional medical publications. We will break clinical and medicopolitical news, but also provide a space for the medical community to debate and discuss issues big and small.

Users are invited to comment, give feedback, set the record straight, or write something for 6minutes.