Predatory Publishing: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Things to think about when selecting a journal for publication:

• Journals that you and your colleagues read
• Journals where you have already published
• Journals that published articles you cited in your manuscript
• Recommendations from colleagues

Evaluate the journal

• Skim articles from several issues to determine scope and quality
• Review the journal’s author guidelines/instructions (may include journal’s mission and target audience)
• Check if the journal might be considered predatory.

Also, consider:

• Journal’s reputation
• Intended audience (broad [NEJM] vs. specialized [Annals of Internal Medicine])
• Types of articles published by journals and word count limits
• Impact factor (indicates the average number of times an article is cited within 2 years after publication)
• The proportion of accepted manuscripts (40% vs. 6%)
• Average time from submission to initial decision and acceptance to publication
• Publishing model (subscription vs. open access)
• Ease of use of manuscript submission system and working with the editorial staff
• Terms of the publishing agreement
• Submit a pre-submission inquiry to the journal

See the resources page to create a list of potential journals. 

More information:

• Meet with a librarian
• Watch this webinar, "Choosing a Journal,"  presented by Stephanie Deming, Sr. Scientific Editor, MD Anderson 

Source: MDAnderson LibGuides

Not always. Authoritative publishers like BMJ or NEJM may charge more for publishing. If the cost is low or minimal, that is a red flag and requires further investigation of the journal. 

Predatory publishers claim to be open access using the Gold Open Access model. The charges provide publishers with income instead of subscriptions. 

If you receive an email from a suspected or predatory publisher, DELETE it. Don't waste your time reading it, just delete it. Do not respond to the email, do not engage, and do not submit a paper. If you are unclear on whether the email is spam or a predatory publisher, ask your Librarians. 

Currently, ACHE does not have a written policy on predatory publishing.