How to Choose a Journal for Submission? Outline

How to choose a journal for submission? Outline

1. Journal’s aim and scope 2. Target audience 3. Journal’s reputation 4. Visibility/ Accessiblity of journal 5. Journal acceptance rate 6. Journal’s turnaround time 7. Cost 8. Editorial board Journal’s aim and scope

The most common yet avoidable reason for journal rejection is mismatch between the manuscript and the journal aims and scope. 1

(1) Ehara and Takahashi (2007). Reasons for Rejection of Manuscripts Submitted to AJR by International Authors. American Journal of Roentgenology, 188: W113- W116.

Journal’s aim and scope

• Is it clinical, public health or basic science? • Skim through previous titles and abstracts in the journal; Will my article fit? • Tips: Look in your bibliography If you are citing several articles from a particular journal, that is a good sign that journal may be an appropriate place to submit your article. Target audience

• Multidisciplinary journal, vs • Specialty journal. If your paper is highly specialized or technical. • Tips: Talk to established colleagues: Helps to assess whether the journal is widely read among your peers. Browse through previous journal issues: Check the countries of authors’ institutional affliliations

Journal’s reputation

• What is the journal’s ranking in its field? Usually on the home page of journal, or refer Journal Citation Reports (ISI), etc • What is the impact factor? Compare with journals of similar discipline • Journal sponsorship. Is the journal owned or sponsored by a prestigious society in your field?

Visibility of journal

For people to read your article, they have to be able to find it. • Is the journal available online? • Is the journal included in electronic databases e.g. ISI’s Web of Science? • Is it an open access journal?

Acceptance rate

• Is the acceptance rate very low ? Weigh your article against previous articles.

Journal’s turnaround time

• Rejection: Journals with a high rejection rate should ensure that submitting authors receive a rapid decision on whether the manuscript is accepted or not. • Review: Peer review period may vary from 2 weeks to months between journals. Study the number of issues that the journal produces per year. • Publication: Timeliness in publishing is also important! ‘Accepted articles’, ‘Articles in press’ Cost

• Do I have to pay? - at submission: processing fee - upon acceptance: publication fee • Can my grant cover the above? • Can I get a waiver? Others

• Do I or any of my co-authors know someone in the editorial board? Sometimes it helps… • Special issues/ supplements • Type of publication e.g. letter to editor, freestanding pieces Checklist

http://www.editage.com/resources/contributors.html Interactions that influence a successful publication and can create a perpetual cycling.

Thompson P J Chest 2007;132:1073-1076