Q. How do I know whether a publisher or journal is reputable or genuine when publishing my work?

It can be hard to distinguish between a reputable journal or publisher and a low quality or even 'predatory' title. While there have been a number of guides to help authors assess a publisher or journal's status, such as Beall's list of predatory journals which is discontinued (no longer maintained), there is no single accepted reliable or comprehensive source of information. Instead, it is important to carry out a series of checks to assess the quality and standards of a potential journal before authors submit a manuscript for publication.

The Think Check Submit campaign was developed by publishers and information professional bodies to help authors identify trusted publishing sources.

Authors should take steps to verify the credentials of a prospective journal and publisher before submitting any manuscript for publication. The Think Check Submit guidance - see in particular the Checklist - will help you independently assess whether a journal operates according to robust scholarly practice.

Some 'predatory' journals and publishers are known to employ aggressive tactics when soliciting material for publication, often targeting early career researchers and doctoral researchers by offering to 'publish' dissertations or theses for free, but do not offer high quality publishing or peer review services. If they attract a small amount reputable research, these journals are able to use this to boost metrics and 

Others may emulate existing publishing models, by charging authors and institutions for open access publication and appear to be genuine by choosing very similar titles to established journals, populated with freely available open access articles in their titles.

If you have concerns about whether a journal or publisher is reputable or genuine, or is right for your research, please contact Open Access for advice, before submitting a paper for publishing. 

Resources to help you assess whether a journal is reputable

Reputable journals should have a named editor and editorial board, with full and traceable contact details, with the board's hierarchy and board members' roles and responsibilities clearly specified. The journal should be peer-reviewed, and publish information on charges, procedures, copyright and licences openly on their website. The journal should have clear guidelines on conflicts of interest, and should demonstrate its commitment to established publication ethics guidelines.  For other resources which can help you check whether a publisher is genuine, see the list and links below.

• Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ): This is a list of verified open access journals which meet the DOAJ's criteria. The University is unable to support Article Processing Charges (APCs) in fully open access journals without a current DOAJ listing. Funders who have implemented Plan S principles, such as UKRI and the European Commission, also do not support publication of research acknowledging their funding in journals which are not listed in DOAJ. 

• Clarivate Journal Citation Reports (JCR) - this database which allows you to view journal Impact Factor (IF). While the limitations and flaws of Impact Factor have been widely acknowledged, and are not used by the University and other signatories of DORA to evaluate research quality, IF can be used responsibly to help track a journal over time, determine whether it is new or established, and get a clearer picture of a journal's scope, reputation and audience and whether it is aligned with your research goals. It is vital to use IF alongside other qualitative checks, including reviewing a journal's editorial board, peer review processes and policies. It is relatively easy for a predatory journal to generate a high IF simply by republishing already published research, or by publishing a small number of highly-cited works. For access, go to the Library databases web page.

• Scopus (Elsevier) and Web of Science - check whether the journal is indexed in these databases and is ranked favourably in its field.

Resources to help assess journal quality

A genuine publisher is generally expected to follow basic publishing good practice standards and may belong to one or more of the following:

• Are they a member of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE)? Members are expected to follow a code of conduct for journal editors and are provided with access to publications ethics training. Search by member (Editor-in-Chief) or by publisher to view a list of journals.

• Are they a member of the International Association of STM (Scientific, Technical and Medical) Publishers? Members publish over 60% of all journal articles and are expected to follow high professional and ethical standards.

• If they are an open access publisher, are they a member of the Open Access Scholarly Publishers Association (OASPA)? Members are bound by a code of conduct and membership criteria based on standard publishing practices and transparency.

• Assess the editorial board. Board members should be listed on a journal's website under industry standards and the code of publication ethics. This is essential for evaluating the journal's quality, credibility and potential influence in its field. You should check whether the members have established reputations in relevant areas, looking at whether they have published often in reputable journals, hold funding awards, and whether they hold notable positions that suggest influence and expertise. You should verify independently whether any affiliations check out, and that the board demonstrates expertise across the journal's scope. 

Download our guide 'Choosing a genuine journal publisher', linked below.