Where should I publish?
A library handout for researchers
Includes:5 warning signs of a predatory journal
7 essential questions to ask when evaluating a journal
Checklist to determine whether a journal is reputable
Tools to find journals based on various selection criteria

Table of contents
1
2

Finding a journal:
How and where to search for suitable titles

Evaluating a journal:
7 essential questions to ask, covering:

Journal scope

Journal quality

Journal ethics

By reviewing and applying thedos and don’ts within thesepages, you will increase thelikelihood of publishing in theright journal for your work.
Identifying the right title isn’teasy. In addition to using thisguide, consider booking a
consultation with a librarian
to help you identify and apply
your selection criteria.

2Finding a journal
Start the search by consulting (and extending) your network:

Ask colleagues andpeers for theirrecommendations

Gain insight from asupervisor, mentor
and authors you readBook aconsultation witha librarian3

Finding a journal
Continue online searching scholarly resources:

Look at wherethe articles you
have citedwere published

Note the journals
referenced in the
bibliography of key
papers in your field

Search for authors
in your field anddiscover where they
are publishing

4Finding a journal
When you search for a journal, you will want to consider:

What is yourmanuscript format,
e.g., original
research article
or review?

Do you want orneed to publish
open access?

Are you seeking
a title with amultidisciplinary/interdisciplinary
focus?

““Begin with the end in mind.”

Do you want topublish with a
specific publisher?

—Stephen Covey, The 7 Habits of Highly
Effective People

Are you publishingresearch dataor other outputs
alongside thearticle?

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Tools to help you find a journal: open accessA few of the tools available to help you find open access (OA) journals include:

Directory of Open
Access Journals (DOAJ)

Enago Open Access
Journal Finder• Community-curated
online directory• Suggests titles based onyour manuscript
keywords, title or abstract• A source-neutral, expertly
curated abstract andcitation database• All titles are DOAJ
certified• Open access filterfor journals• Indexes and links to openaccess, peer-reviewed
journals

In addition, you can publish your article open access in many hybrid journals,
which combine subscription and OA content.
If your research has funding support, check for any publication requirements.

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Tools to help you find a journal: multidisciplinary
A few of the tools and platforms available to help you identify potential titles,
whatever your discipline or field, include:
Edanz Journal Selector

JournalGuide• Search for journals by
keywords, field of study,
title, publisher or abstract• Search for journals by
keywords, title, publisher
or category. Select up tothree journals to compareside by side

Ulrichsweb GlobalSerials Directory• Search by subject area,title, publisher and ISSN.
Compare up to 10 journals
side by side on 7 metrics• Search by title,
ISSN or search term.
Includes scholarly journals,
popular magazines,
newsletters and more7

Tools to help you find a journal: publisher specific
Platforms available to help you identify potential titles by publisher include:

Elsevier
JournalFinder

Springer Nature journalsuggester

Wiley Journal Finder (Beta)• Uses smart search technology tomatch the title and abstract of yourmanuscript to potential Elsevier
titles• Journal-matching technology
finds relevant Springer Naturejournals based on yourmanuscript details• Draws on information in themanuscript title and abstract tocreate a list of potential Wiley
journals8Evaluating a journal
7 key questions to consider as youevaluate the journals you have identified:
1. Is the manuscript the right fit for the journal?
2. Are there any funder/institution mandates to consider?
3. Is the journal visible in the communities you want to reach?
4. Is there a reasonable chance of acceptance?
5. Is the journal indexed in all the relevant databases?
6. What do the journal metrics reveal?
7. Is the journal reputable, including practicing robust peer review?

9Journal scope
Question 1: Is the manuscript the right fit for the journal?

Do research the journal’s aims and scope on thejournal information page, usually found on the
publisher’s website (more details may beavailable in the journal’s author guidelines). Also
look at recent articles. Based on this information,assess whether your paper is a good fit.

Don’t submit without checking the journal’s aimsand scope. A key reason editors immediately
reject manuscripts is that the paper is a poor fit
for that journal.

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Journal scope
Question 1: Is the manuscript the right fit for the journal?

Investigate the journal to discover:•Subject areas covered•

Type of articles considered•

Disciplines covered•

Whether supplemental files are welcome•

Regional or global reach11

Journal scope
Question 1: Is the manuscript the right fit for the journal?

TrendsIn recent years, new forms of articles have emerged, often alongside journals specificallydeveloped to publish them. Journals are now available that publish descriptions of your data,methods, hardware or software to enhance reproducibility.

You can now
Select titles that publish thecomponents of your study as
separate standalone articles
or create video articles.

Share 3D visualizationsof your scientific models
or publish the data
underlying your study.

Choose journals that publish sound rather thannovel science, or titles that accept submissions
from all disciplines, or focus on those with amultidisciplinary or interdisciplinary approach.

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Journal scope
Question 2: Are there any funder/institutional mandates to consider?

Do ensure the journal aligns with the funder orinstitutional requirements regarding publication.
The journal information page will explain options
around open access, data publication and useof persistent identifiers. Also, publisher websites
will often provide information on how to comply
with specific funding body mandates.

Don’t forget to investigate institutional or
funder requirements regarding publication.
Failure to comply could jeopardize future
funding or collaboration opportunities.

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Journal scope
Question 3: Is the journal read in the communities you want to reach?

Do check the journal’s aims and scopefor information on readership. In thecase of Elsevier, selected journals
display a map showing where, andhow often, the journal content has
been downloaded. These maps areaccessible via the Journal Insights linkon the journal information page.

Do check whether colleagues
and mentors read andrecommend the journal. Find out
if the journal’s papers areindexed in databases relevant toyour subject area, e.g., PubMedin the case of life science andbiomedical research.

Don’t publish in journals
that aren’t reaching theaudiences who canbenefit from your work.

14Journal scope
Question 4: Is there a reasonable chance of acceptance?

Do look for the acceptance/rejection rate andthen factor it into your decision-making
process. Not all journals may offer thisinformation. This can be found for Elsevier
journals within the Elsevier JournalFinder.

Don’t submit to a journal extremely unlikely toaccept your paper, especially if quick publication isa priority. You lose the time spent submitting andwaiting for editor and reviewer comments. If you
receive constructive comments upon rejection, besure to incorporate them before submitting to a newjournal.

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Journal scope
Question 4: Is there a reasonable chance of acceptance?

TIP
It can be tempting to submit to the journal with the highest impact metrics,
or the most recognized name in the field. However, these often have thehighest rejection rates. That doesn’t mean your manuscript won’t be
accepted — just that it’s probably only worth submitting if it meets all thejournal’s criteria.

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Journal quality
Question 5: Is the journal indexed by relevant databases?

Do search for the journal in a scholarly databasethat has a rigorous selection process, such as
Scopus or Web of Science.

Don’t rely solely on the journal’s claim to belisted in databases. Predatory journals may
make false claims.

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Journal quality
Question 5: Is the journal indexed by relevant databases?

TIP

Listed in tools and databases

Check whether the journal is listed in a database with a journal review process. For example, all journals listedin Scopus are reviewed by an independent Content Selection and Advisory Board (CSAB), comprising subject
experts from around the world.

For inclusion in Scopus, journals must have•••••

Peer review
English abstracts
Regular publication (i.e., an ISSN)
Roman script references
A publishing ethics statement

They are then assessed against
14 quantitative and qualitative selection
criteria that look at journal policy,
quality of content, journal standing,regularity and online availability.

Note
If it’s a new journal, there may be
a time lapse before it’s included
in databases.

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Journal quality
Question 6: What do the metrics reveal?

Do search within an abstract and citation
database such as Scopus that allows you tofind and compare journals based on several
citation metrics.

Don’t rely solely upon one number or type ofmetric when deciding where to publish.

Knowing how the journal content has previously performed can help you understand its reach and impact.

19Journal quality
Question 6: What do the metrics reveal?

TrendsThe San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA) and other initiatives have recommended a
reduced focus on the Impact Factor. Alternative approaches include the NIH’s Relative Citation Ratio and Elsevier’sCiteScore (both launched in 2016).
In 2017, R-factors were proposed to highlight the successful reproducibility of a study. While these, and theattention metrics offered by Plum Analytics, Newsflo and Altmetric.com, are gaining in popularity, the hunt is still on
for a metric that measures not just attention, but the sentiment behind it. The ability to measure societal impact isanother key goal. In addition, some believe new metrics measuring openness, data quality and collaboration arerequired.

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Journal ethics
Question 7: Is the journal reputable?

““There is no universally agreed definition of a predatory journal or publisher.

However, organizations like the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and theWorld Association of Medical Editors (WAME) define global publication ethics
standards — predatory journals do not meet those standards.”—Karen Holland, Prof. Peter Brimblecombe, Dr. Wim Meester and Susanne Steiginga,
The importance of high-quality content: curation and reevaluation in Scopus

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Journal ethics
Question 7: Is the journal reputable?

Publishing in a predatory journal
can have negative consequences:

Don’t ignore the warning signs of a predatory journal, which may
include one or more of the following:Your article is not perceived as meeting aquality standard because it lacks peer
review.

1. It actively and aggressively solicits submissions, often for a fee.
2. The “call for paper” emails contain spelling and grammar mistakes.
3. It has a short publication history, e.g., four issues or fewer, eventhough the journal has existed for several years.
4. Its scope is very broad, or the content published doesn’t match its
stated aims and scope.
5. It offers rapid publication (e.g., within 48 hours).

Article processing charges (APCs)
provided by your funder or institution arelost, potentially impacting future grant or
career progression opportunities.
The reach of your work could be limited if
the journal is not indexed in leading
databases, and the work itself may be lost
if it’s not archived correctly.

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Journal ethics
Question 7: Is the journal reputable?

Do use the following checklist of questions to determine whether a journal is reputable. And check with alibrarian if you have any questions.
❑ Is it listed in the relevant journal finder tools and databases? ❑ Is it clear who the editor(s) and editorial board are?

❑ Is it enrolled in COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics)?

❑ Does it perform some form of peer review?

❑ Can you tell who owns the journal?

❑ Are APCs and the timing of fees clear?

❑ Is the journal published by a well-known, reputable society,academic press or publishing house?

❑ Does the publisher provide details about open accesslicenses and their associated conditions?

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Journal ethics
Question 7: Is the journal reputable?

TIP

Committee on Publication Ethics

Most reputable publishers enroll their journals in COPE. This information is usually visible on the publisher website —COPE membership provides editors and authors with the reassurance that comprehensive publishing and research
ethics guidelines will be followed. (COPE has a new rule that journals can’t be approved for membership until they areat least a year old, so a brand new journal may be reputable but just not eligible for membership yet.)24Journal ethics
Question 7: Is the journal reputable?

TIP

Journal management

Check the address and contact
details for the publisher andensure they sound plausible,
e.g., no mobile phone numbers
or obvious residential addresses.

Be careful if the editor andpublisher is the same person
as this can be a warning sign,
although it doesn’t always
mean the journal is suspect.

If you aren’t familiar with the editor or membersof the editorial board, verify that they exist. If their
participation seems unlikely, check their bios on
their institution or personal websites to see if theymention their editorial role for that journal.

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Journal ethics
Question 7: Is the journal reputable?

TIP

Peer review

Peer review is regarded as the cornerstone of scholarly publishing— a valuable stamp of approval for a published manuscript. If ajournal’s submission to publication time is measured in hours ordays, or the APC is payable up front, the journal is unlikely to offer
robust peer review. A reputable journal is open about its peer
review process, describing whether it’s single or double blind, preor post-publication, etc.

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Journal ethics
Question 7: Is the journal reputable?

APCs and licenses for publishing open access
Find out what article publishing charges (APCs) are typical by checking publishers’ pricing information to publish openaccess. If there is a request to pay up front, be cautious: reputable open access journals only invoice if an article isaccepted for publication.
It should be easy to find details about the open access license options and their associated conditions — they are
generally featured on the journal’s information page or in the author guidelines. Many publishers offer one or more of
the licenses developed by the non-profit organization Creative Commons. These licenses are usually recognizable by
the prefix CC BY.

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Additional resources
Other useful online resources and checklists to help answer the question “Where should I publish?” include:• Think. Check. Submit. was launched by a coalition of scholarly organizations inresponse to deceptive or predatory publishing. It includes a short but
comprehensive checklist covering points such as a journal’s transparency aroundownership, peer review and fees (if any).
• Be iNFORMEd is a similar checklist. Developed by Duke University Medical Center
Library and Archives in Durham, NC, US, it is designed to assess the quality of ajournal or publisher.

• Elsevier Researcher Academy offers free e-learning modules on the Publication
Process and other topics related to your research journey.
• How to Assess a Journal is a useful infographic from CARL
(the Canadian Association of Research Libraries) to guide researchers
through journal assessment.
• Dalhousie University predatory journal guide contains useful tips to help you spota predatory publisher.

URLs for links in this guide• CARL (Canadian Association of Research Libraries) journal assessment guide:
http://www.carl-abrc.ca/how-to-assess-a-journal/• Enago Open Access Journal Finder: https://www.enago.com/academy/journalfinder/• COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics): https://publicationethics.org/• JournalGuide: https://www.journalguide.com/• Creative Commons: https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/licensing-typesexamples/• Scopus: https://www.scopus.com• Dalhousie University predatory journal guide:
http://dal.ca.libguides.com/c.php?g=257122&p=2830098• Springer Nature journal suggester: https://journalsuggester.springer.com/• Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ): https://doaj.org/• UlrichsWeb Global Serials Directory: http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com/login• Duke University Medical Center Library and Archives Be iNFORMEd guide:
https://guides.mclibrary.duke.edu/beinformed• Wiley Journal Finder (Beta): https://journalfinder.wiley.com• Think. Check. Submit: https://thinkchecksubmit.org/• Elsevier Journal Finder: https://journalfinder.elsevier.com/• Elsevier Researcher Academy: https://researcheracademy.elsevier.com/

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Sources
Be iNFORMEd: Checklist. Duke University Medical Center Library & Archives.
https://guides.mclibrary.duke.edu/beinformed
A guide to journal citation metrics. Online learning module. Elsevier Researcher Academy.
https://researcheracademy.elsevier.com/publication-process/finding-right-journal/guide-journal-citation-metrics
How to identify the right journal to publish in. Online learning module. Elsevier Researcher Academy.
https://researcheracademy.elsevier.com/publication-process/finding-right-journal/identify-right-journal-publish
Hurrell, A., Lange, J., Lapierre, D., Yates, E., & Brin, L. How to Assess a Journal. Canadian Association of Research Libraries.
http://www.carl-abrc.ca/how-to-assess-a-journal/
The importance of high-quality content: curation and reevaluation in Scopus
https://www.elsevier.com/research-intelligence/resource-library/scopus-high-quality-content
New web services that help authors choose journals. Learned Publishing. Forrester, A., Björk, B & Tenopir, C. 03 August 2017,https://doi.org/10.1002/leap.1112

29Sources
Supporting Value: How Rigorous Processes & Collaborations Help Ensure Research Integrity
https://www.elsevier.com/__data/assets/pdf_file/0012/797709/ResearchIntegrityWhitepaper.pdf
Think. Check. Submit.
https://thinkchecksubmit.org/
What is a predatory journal? LibGuides: Open Access. Dalhousie University Libraries.
http://dal.ca.libguides.com/c.php?g=257122&p=2830098

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