Selecting journals

Peer-reviewed journal articles are one of the most common forms of academic research dissemination. But before you start writing your manuscript, it’s important to consider which journal/s you want in publish in and why.

Keep in mind that different journals (even within the same field) will have different length, formatting and style requirements that your manuscript should conform to – so be sure to check these early on (there are usually ‘guidelines for submission’ or equivalent, accessible from a journal’s homepage).

And, as it’s standard academic practice (and often a requirement of submission) that you only submit a manuscript for the exclusive consideration of one journal at a time, it’s important to choose your target journal wisely.

How to find relevant journals

• Ask your supervisors or other academic mentors for suggestions.
• Take note of where experts in your field are publishing.
• Think about which scholarly conversation/s you are entering and where they are happening.
• Find which journals you cite most consistently in your work.
• Check discipline-specific lists of journals that are relevant to your area.

After going through these steps, you’ll likely have multiple journals that could be relevant.

What to consider when choosing a journal

You will often have to navigate competing priorities when choosing the right journal for a particular piece of writing. It’s important to consider things such as topic fit (e.g. is it within the stated scope of the journal?); journal metrics (e.g. impact factor, quartile, ranking on a discipline-specific list, indicative turnaround times); and likelihood of acceptance (some journals have higher rejection rates than others).

Open Access Journals

You might also need to consider whether a journal offers Open Access publishing. Open Access is increasingly being embraced by researchers across the world, as it offers free access to a much broader readership than traditional journals. Have a look at the library’s resources on Open Scholarship and visit the La Trobe OPAL repository for more information about publishing in Open Access.

Extra tips for selecting journals

• Familiarise yourself with journal ranking lists and databases.
• Use peer and professional networks (including social media) to identify relevant calls for papers for special issues.
• Scan the list of editors and members of editorial boards for any scholars’ names that you recognise from your research – this can also give you an indication of relevance and reputation.
• Avoid ‘predatory publishers’ – publications that are of low quality and/or are deceptive (be wary of emails soliciting a submission from you!). If in doubt, use Think.Check.Submit to help you.