Choosing a venue is a research skill. Here is the checklist we would use.
1. Start with scope, not prestige
The most common reason for desk rejection is that the paper does not fit the journal's stated aims. Read the aims and scope, then read the titles in the two most recent issues. If your paper would look out of place there, it will be rejected there.
2. Check indexing against what your institution counts
Assessment frameworks differ. Some count Scopus, some Web of Science, some a national list such as UGC-CARE. Confirm what yours requires before you submit, then filter this directory by that database.
3. Verify the peer review model
Single anonymous, double anonymous, open, or post-publication — each is legitimate, but the journal should say which it uses and where the policy lives. A journal that will not describe its review process is telling you something.
4. Look at realistic timelines
Where a journal publishes its average time from submission to publication, we show it. Suspiciously fast turnaround on a journal claiming rigorous review is a warning sign, not a feature.
5. Check the licence and who keeps copyright
CC BY is the most permissive and is required by many funders. Confirm whether you retain copyright — many no-APC journals let authors keep it without restriction.
6. Confirm articles are preserved and get DOIs
A journal should deposit content with a preservation service (CLOCKSS, LOCKSS, Portico, PKP PN or a national library) and assign persistent identifiers. Without those, your article can simply vanish when a server is retired.
7. Warning signs of a predatory journal
- Unsolicited flattering email inviting a submission
- Promises of peer review within days
- Editorial board members listed without their consent, or with no verifiable affiliation
- Fees revealed only after acceptance
- A scope so broad it covers unrelated disciplines
- Fake or unverifiable impact metrics
Every journal in this directory is screened against many of these before listing, but always verify on the journal's own site before submitting.