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A still infinity pool above the sea, with four brushed-steel posts standing in the water at different heights. The tallest is capped in citrine glass; the lowest lies just under the waterline.

fit, costs and a predatory-journal screen

Journal finder

Rank your shortlist. Screen it for warning signs.

Try the journal finder
The film: the journal finder in 25 seconds. An illustrative example; the journals are invented and nothing is looked up or sent.
What the film shows, in words
  1. Which journal, and is it what it claims to be?
  2. Three journals. Two float. One is held under.
  3. Indexing not verified. Peer review not described. Editors not verifiable. Unsolicited invitation. Very fast decision promised.
  4. Three signs: still under. Two: it surfaces.
  5. Number 2 in the ranking, behind Journal A. Two signs still to weigh.
  6. You check at the source. Nothing here promises acceptance.

The demo: the worked example, one check at a time

ExampleThree invented journals, one with warning signs. It never touches your saved work.

Two journals float. One is held under by five warning signs.

Step 1 of 5

  1. 01Journal A (example)Best fit so far

    • 02Journal B (example)

      • 03Journal C (example)High risk

        • Indexing not verified
        • Peer review not described
        • Editors not verifiable
        • Unsolicited invitation
        • Very fast decision promised

      • 03Journal C (example)High risk

        • Indexing not verified
        • Peer review not described
        • Editors not verifiable
        • Unsolicited invitation
        • Very fast decision promised

      3 journals screened, 1 high risk. Best fit so far: Journal A (example). Order: Journal A, Journal B, Journal C.

      Dated screen, no guarantee. Screened on 9 October 2026. Journals change; re-check before submitting. Nothing here promises acceptance.

      Journals screened
      3
      High risk
      1
      Best fit so far
      Journal A (example)

      Now your shortlist, on the same line.

      List the journals you are considering, check each one’s details yourself at the source, and record what you find. The finder ranks them on scope fit, speed and cost, and screens each for warning signs of predatory publishing. It promises nothing about acceptance.

      USD
      Open access needed?

      For your own record. It does not change the ranking.

      Verify each journal’s details on its own website and in the index it claims.

          • 03Journal C (example)High risk

          Journals screened
          3
          High risk
          1
          Best fit so far
          Journal A (example)

          Dated screen, no guarantee. Screened on 9 October 2026. Journals change; re-check before submitting. Nothing here promises acceptance.

          One row a journal, in the order you enter them. The four checks on the right are yours to make at the source: a check that fails hangs a weight under its spar.

          Shortlist

          1. 01
          2. 02
          3. 03

          The record, in words

          Live
          3journals screened
          1high risk
          Journal A (example)best fit so far
          Ranked shortlist
          JournalScope fitFeeWeeksRiskWarning signs
          Journal A (example)4/4None12LowNone
          Journal B (example)3/4USD 1,2008LowNone
          Journal C (example)4/4USD 4502Highindexing not verified; peer review not described; editors not verifiable; unsolicited invitation; very fast decision promised

          Screen

          • Gap: Journal C (example): several warning signs.indexing not verified; peer review not described; editors not verifiable; unsolicited invitation; very fast decision promised. Avoid until each is resolved at the source.
          • Note: Dated screen, no guarantee.Screened on 9 October 2026. Journals change; re-check before submitting. Nothing here promises acceptance.

          Submission checklist

          Before you submit

          • Read the aims and scope, and three recent articles.
          • Confirm indexing in the index itself, not on the journal’s site.
          • Check the fee, waivers and licence terms.
          • Follow the author guidelines exactly: length, format, references.
          • Agree authorship and order with every co-author in writing.
          Your dated checklistJournal shortlist criteria and submission checklistTry this form

          Practice 11: Research supervision, academic coaching & publication supportFree · instant results on this pageTool owner: Prof. Wisdom Gagakuma and Michael GagakumaVersion 1.0 ·

          GKM Strategic Advisory & AI

          Journal shortlist criteria and submission checklist

          Your organisation

          3 screened · 1 high risk · best fit so far: Journal A (example)

          Before you submit

          • Read the aims and scope, and three recent articles.
          • Confirm indexing in the index itself, not on the journal’s site.
          • Check the fee, waivers and licence terms.
          • Follow the author guidelines exactly: length, format, references.
          • Agree authorship and order with every co-author in writing.

          PDF · Screened on 9 October 2026 · no safety guarantee

          Your shortlist as it stands, with the checklist to work through before you submit.

          Your dated checklist

          Journal shortlist criteria and submission checklist, by email once delivery is connected.

          Journal shortlist criteria and submission checklist (dated sources; no safety guarantee)

          Preview only. No email will be sent. Your results are available above.

          Nothing you enter here is sent anywhere. Privacy notice

          · a free brief, or book the Professor · from USD 150
          At water level: three stone steps of a terrace going down under clear, shallow water, with a line of citrine light beneath the edge above them.
          What holds one under: three or more warning signs.

          How it ranks, and its limits.

          The rules are published so you can check them. The tool compares the journals you enter; it endorses none of them.

          1. 01

            Warning signs: indexing not verified at the index, peer review not described, editors not verifiable, unsolicited invitations, and decisions promised in under four weeks. Three or more is high risk.

          2. 02

            Ranking favours scope fit, then fee within budget and time to decision; high-risk journals drop to the bottom.

          3. 03

            Open access does not change the ranking: if you need it, journals that list no fee are flagged for you to confirm open access and the licence; if you do not, journals that charge a fee are flagged for you to ask about a route without it.

          4. 04

            Every screen is dated.

          • No warning signs

            It stands at its fit: scope fit first, then the fee against your budget and the weeks to a decision.

          • One or two: “Check”

            It rides lower, with each sign named beneath it. It can still be ranked, and the signs stay in view.

          • Three or more: “High”

            Under the line whatever its fit, and set aside until each sign is resolved at the source.

          What it cannot tell you

          • You verify each detail at the source; the tool does not look journals up.
          • No list of predatory journals is complete; judgement is needed.
          • Nothing here promises acceptance.

          Quality ruleNo acceptance promise; verify journal details and do not fabricate indexing.

          A concrete wall rising to a sharp point above still water, a tip of citrine glass at its top, its long reflection lying on the water towards the open sea.

          When you need more than a shortlist

          Service · 11 Research supervision, academic coaching & publication supportPublication support: thesis to journal article

          The researcher remains the author. Nothing here promises acceptance.

          Tell us what you need A brief is free to send.
          Publication support: thesis to journal articleService · 11 Research supervision, academic coaching & publication support 11 Research supervision, academic coaching & publication supportPractice Research topicsFree toolResearch methodology decision aidFree toolResearch-proposal structure & review checklistFree toolReference-list consistency checkerFree tool