Introduction

When you are looking to publish it is important to think about the following factors:

• Journal aims, scope and target audience
• Journal reputation, publishing efficiency and reach
• Journal citation metrics (e.g. journal impact factor)
• Journal publishing models and licencing
• Open access options

Traditional publishing model

The traditional method of journal publishing meant access to your research was only by subscription to the journal in which your research was published, or by payment for individual articles – i.e. your research was behind a subscription paywall. Note that some journals only offer this publishing model.

The researcher now has more choice and control over how their work is disseminated and accessed, and there are now many ways to make your research available and accessible.

The University strategy and publishing policies aim to increase the reach and impact of La Trobe’s research. For research to have impact, it must be accessible. Not all research results in publications in journals, however this is a main communication channel for research, and if government, industry, potential collaborators, policy bodies, fellow researchers, the public, and the community cannot access your published research, then the potential impact of your research could be limited.
 

Fully open access publishing model

Many journals have a fully open access publishing model – all the articles in the journal are immediately open access upon publication (Gold Open Access publishing model). This publishing model may require payment of a fee, or Article Processing Charge (APC), although many fully Open Access journals do not require payment to publish.
 

Hybrid publishing model

A “hybrid” journal has some articles available as immediate open access, with other articles only available by subscription. Publishing as immediately open access in a journal with a hybrid model will require payment of an Article Processing Charge. Researchers have the option to pay the APC, and their research will be immediately open access when published, or continue to publish in the journal without paying the APC, and their research will be available only by subscription (i.e. behind a paywall). See the next section on Read and Publish for possible assistance with APC payments.
 

Read and Publish

Another recent publishing model is “Read and Publish” agreements, where the Library has an agreement with a publisher to discount or waive APCs for publishing articles as immediately open access with the intention that these journals will move towards a fully open publishing model. Our publisher discounts and our Read & Publish agreements are listed on the Discounts for LTU authors page of this guide.
 

Repository Open Access

Even if you decide to publish in a journal where your research is only accessible by subscription, you can still make your research open by depositing the Author Accepted Manuscript version of your research into OPAL, the University Institutional Repository. The Library Research team will then ensure your AAM is available in OPAL as soon as any publisher embargo period has expired.