Recently the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) revised its instructions for authors stating that "authors have a responsibility to evaluate the integrity, history, practices and reputation of the journals to which they submit manuscripts.” The new instruction specifically calls out so-called predatory journals and decisively puts the onus on the author to be certain they are working with a reputable publisher.
Becker Library has created a new Selecting a Journal for Publication Guide to help researchers navigate the myriad publication options available to them while avoiding common pitfalls. The online guide contains resources for authors who are considering submitting a manuscript to a journal for peer review or have received an invitation to publish in a journal.
In addition to the new guide, Becker Library offers customized presentations on this topic for departments, divisions and programs at the School of Medicine. Presentations typically cover how to evaluate the integrity, history, practices and reputation of journals, as well as a "what's trending" section to help researchers keep abreast of new developments in journal publishing. Please contact Cathy Sarli to schedule a presentation.
Librarians Cathy Sarli and Amy Suiter specialize in scholarly publishing and are happy to help answer your questions at any time.