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Step 1 - Make short list of target journals

Journal shortlisting process and tools

The first step in the process is to identify 3-5 target journals in the subject area of your paper. Make a start on the shortlist as soon as you have an idea for a paper - don't wait until your manuscript is completed.  

You can find suggestions for potential journal titles from: 

On this page you will find information about tools for identifying target journals.

Journal selecting tools

Journal selectors are services that find journals that match your keywords, unpublished abstract and/or other criteria. Some tools include information about the journal's reputation, publishing efficiency and citation metrics. 

Lists of journals in selected disciplines

Citation and publisher databases

Citation and publisher databases are useful for identifying potential publication venues as they index thousands of journals across a wide range of disciplines. Web of Science also provides a list of journals within subject categories.

To find journals: 

  • Make a list of keywords that accurately describe your manuscript 
  • Use your keywords to search:
    • Web of Science - use the topic search index
    • Scopus - use the article title, abstract and keywords search index
    • Ulrichsweb - use the advanced search option

Predatory publishing

Predatory publishers are publishers that behave unethically and deceptively. They exploit academics by operating a business model that involves charging publication fees without providing the same level of editorial and publishing services offered by legitimate journals.

Predatory publishers:

  • Make false claims or promises
  • Engage in unethical business practices
  • Are unconcerned about publication quality
  • Do not follow accepted standards or best practices of scholarly publishing

Identifying predatory publishers

To avoid predatory publishers, it’s important to carefully examine the website of each journal you plan to submit to so you can assess their business practices.

Here are some of the warning signs:

Look for Reputable publishers

Warning signs of predatory publishers
Journal scope

The journal’s scope is stated on the website and will clearly define the readership. Multidisciplinary journals are limited to related fields.

The journal’s scope is very broad and includes multiple and unrelated fields.
Journal quality The journal publishes good quality, authentic research.

The journal promises publication of all submissions.

 Predatory publishers aim to make money and are not interested in publishing excellent research.

Browse several issues of the journal to gauge the quality. If you’re unsure check with colleagues/librarians.
Peer review process

The journal’s website has a clear statement of whether the journal is peer reviewed or not. The peer review process is clearly described.

The peer review process is not clearly explained or to disciplinary standards.

Predators promise a rapid peer review or may not peer review at all. 
Editorial board 

The journal’s website lists the full names, affiliations and contact details of the editors. The board includes recognisable experts in the scope of the journal. The publisher is a member of an industry association such as COPE and/or OASPA. 

The editorial board is comprised of unknown and unverifiable academics.  Contact editors to ask questions about their experience with the journal.
Author fees Publication fees (if any) are listed on the website and easy to find. 

Publication fees may be difficult to find, very low compared to other publishers or undisclosed until submission.

Make sure you check the fees before you submit your manuscript.
Retraction policy The journal has a clear policy for correcting, revising or withdrawing articles after publication. There is no retraction policy or it is not publicly available. 
Impact factor The journal’s website lists a reputable journal metric (e.g., JIF, SJR).

The journal displays fake or questionable metrics (e.g., ICV - Index Copernicus Value).

Check the journal’s citation metrics in authoritative sources such as Journal Citation Reports and SciMago Journal and Country Rank.
Contact information The journal’s website provides contact information of the editorial office including a full address. All staff have institutional or journal-related email addresses. Address details are unverifiable. Email addresses are non-professional and non-journal affiliated.
Journal website  The website targets readers (i.e. focuses on journal content) and has a professional appearance, free of spelling and grammatical errors.  The website prioritises authors over readers. It has spelling and grammatical errors. Images and logos may have a distorted or fuzzy appearance. 
Submission process The website clearly describes how manuscripts are handled. Authors can track the progress of their manuscript in an electronic submission system. Manuscripts are submitted to an email address.

Cabell's Directories Predatory Reports database analyses behavioural indicators to identify possibly predatory publishers.