OAVP RCWI Guidelines for Selecting a Journal for the Publication of Scholarly Work

For Ateneo researchers, the choice of journal for publication of one's scholarly work directly impacts readership and citation, as well as visibility and credibility. These, in turn, can facilitate how quickly the work moves through review, and whether it meets the ethics, authorship, and transparency standards expected of Ateneo scholarship. Just as importantly, judicious journal choice also helps protect researchers from predatory publishing practices that can waste time, money, and reputation.

The attached OAVP RCWI Guidelines for Selecting a Journal for the Publication of Scholarly Work is a practical checklist to help faculty, researchers, and students choose an appropriate peer-reviewed journal for their manuscripts. It walks authors through ten key considerations: 

• matching a journal’s aims and audience to your work;
• checking academic reputation through indexing and metrics;
• confirming a credible peer-review process and editorial board;
• weighing timelines and publication regularity;
• ensuring online visibility (e.g., DOIs, archiving, discoverability);
• meeting research and publication ethics requirements;
• aligning with journal policies on AI-generated content;
• understanding costs and open-access options;
• avoiding predatory journals;
• and protecting author rights—especially the ability to deposit manuscripts in the University’s institutional repository, Archīum.  

These guidelines are readily downloadable below for quick reference and use in planning submissions, mentoring students, and supporting research units in publication decisions.