Have you received an unexpected invitation by email to publish in a journal? Or perhaps you've been asked to serve as a peer reviewer for a journal you’ve never heard of? You're not alone. Many researchers are regularly contacted by unfamiliar publishers—and while some may be legitimate, others may not be worth your time or reputation.
With the continued rise of open access publishing and the “pay to publish” model, it's more important than ever to evaluate journals before engaging with them. While open access can increase the visibility of your research, it has also led to the growth of predatory journals—publications that charge fees without providing proper editorial or peer review services. The ever-increasing number of new journals makes it difficult to distinguish between reputable and unethical publishers.
To help you navigate this landscape, we recommend two excellent tools:
Be iNFORMED – Developed by our library, this checklist walks you through key questions to assess a journal’s credibility:
- Number: How many articles has the journal published? How often are they cited?
- Fee: Is the publication fee reasonable and clearly stated?
- Ownership: Who owns and produces the journal?
- Review: Is content peer reviewed before acceptance? How rigorous is the process?
- Membership: Is the journal affiliated with scholarly associations or open access alliances?
- EDitorial: Who serves on the editorial board and staff?
Think. Check. Submit. – A checklist to help researchers evaluate new or unknown journals and publishers. While this tool is primarily designed for authors seeking journals to publish in, many of its criteria—such as transparency, editorial board quality, and peer review practices—can also help you assess whether a journal is reputable enough to review for.
Whether you're considering publishing your work or reviewing someone else’s, these tools can help you make informed decisions and protect the integrity of your scholarship.
🔗 For more information, check out our Getting Published LibGuide.
📬 Still have questions or want help evaluating a journal? Contact the Medical Center Library at medical-librarian@duke.edu — we’re here to help!