Where to Publish: Choosing a Journal for Your Scholarship

Once you have a short list of possible journals, the next step is to evaluate how well each one fits your article, discipline, and professional goals. Use the criteria below to assess journal quality, reputation, and alignment with your needs before you submit.

Look for clear, transparent information about how the journal is run and how manuscripts are handled.

• Peer review process. Does the journal describe its peer review (e.g., single-blind, double-blind, or open)? Are timelines and steps reasonably explained?
• Editorial board. Are the editors and board members clearly listed with their institutional affiliations? Do they have recognizable expertise in your field or related areas?
• Publisher and affiliations. Is the journal published by a scholarly society, university press, or an established publisher with a track record in your discipline?
• Transparency and policies. Are there clear policies on ethics, conflicts of interest, corrections or retractions, and data or materials sharing where applicable?
• Indexing and visibility. Is the journal indexed in the databases your discipline relies on to discover research? Are articles easy to find via common search tools?
• Overall presentation. Does the journal site look professional, with consistent formatting, working links, and complete contact information?

If any of this information is missing or very vague, consider it a signal to investigate further before submitting.

Journal-level metrics can provide useful context, but they should support—rather than replace—your judgment about fit and quality.

• Common metrics. You may see measures such as Journal Impact Factor, CiteScore, SCImago Journal Rank (SJR), or h-index used to summarize citation patterns.
• Field differences. Citation practices vary widely; a “high” metric in one field might be average or low in another. Compare journals within the same discipline or subfield.
• Complement metrics with qualitative factors. Scope, audience, editorial practices, and your own goals (e.g., reaching practitioners vs. specialists) are often more important than small differences in numerical scores.
• Check local expectations. Some departments emphasize particular metrics or ranked lists, while others explicitly discourage over-reliance on them. Review your evaluation documents and talk with colleagues.
• Look beyond prestige. A slightly less “prestigious” but well-matched journal may offer a better readership, faster review times, or stronger alignment with your project.

Your subject librarian can help you locate and interpret journal metrics for your field if you need additional context.

Or visit our Scholarly Impact Metrics & Altmetrics guide for more information.

Most journals are legitimate, but some exploit authors by charging fees without providing standard editorial, peer-review, or preservation services. Use caution, especially with unsolicited invitations to publish.

• Watch for red flags.
  • Unrealistic promises of very fast peer review or guaranteed acceptance
  • Vague or missing information about peer review, editorial policies, or indexing
  • Editorial board members you cannot verify or whose involvement seems unlikely
  • Website content with frequent errors, broken links, or misleading claims
  • Hidden or confusing publication fees that only appear late in the process
• Use checklists and vetted lists. Tools such as journal evaluation checklists, vetted open access directories, and publisher membership lists can help you confirm that a journal follows recognized standards.
• Verify indexing and affiliations. If a journal claims to be indexed in major databases or connected to specific societies, verify those claims on the database or society’s own website.
• Ask for a second opinion. If you are unsure about a journal, talk with colleagues or contact your librarian before submitting or paying any fees.

If something about a journal or publisher does not feel right, it is worth pausing to investigate alternatives.

See our Predatory Publishers guide for more information.