Evaluation process
and
selection criteria

Journal Registry – A global Registry of credible and ethically governed scholarly journals

The Journal Registry evaluates and recognizes scholarly journals based on the quality, integrity, and transparency of their publishing practices, rather than the individual articles they publish.

We recognize that, in scholarly communication, the credibility of a journal or publisher plays a critical role in how research is perceived, trusted, and disseminated. Researchers, institutions, and funding bodies often assess research quality based on where it is published, making the journal itself a key component of the academic ecosystem.

In response to this reality, the Journal Registry serves as a trusted and independent reference point, enabling the global research community to identify credible, ethically governed, and transparent publication venues while helping protect researchers from paper mills, deceptive journals, and questionable publishing practices.

Evaluation Process

Eligible Journal Types

💎 Diamond Open Access
Journals that provide free access to readers and do not charge authors (no APCs).
✅ Fully eligible, provided ethical standards and rigorous peer review are maintained
🥇 Gold Open Access
Journals where articles are freely available, typically supported by Article Processing Charges (APCs).
✅ Eligible if peer review is robust and policies are transparent
🔀 Hybrid Journals
Subscription-based journals offering optional open access for individual articles.
✅ Eligible if strong editorial governance and ethical practices are demonstrated
🔒 Subscription-Based Journals
Traditional journals where access is restricted to subscribers or institutions.
✅ Eligible if they meet established standards of quality, integrity, and editorial oversight
🏛️ Society Journals
Journals published by academic societies or professional organizations.
✅ Strongly encouraged where governance and peer review frameworks are well established
🎓 University / Institutional Journals
Journals published by universities or research institutions.
✅ Eligible if aligned with international publishing and ethical standards
🧩 Independent Journals
Journals managed by independent editorial teams or small publishers.
✅ Eligible if transparency, editorial integrity, and governance are clearly demonstrated
🌐 Multidisciplinary Journals
Journals covering multiple research disciplines.
✅ Eligible if the scope and editorial structure, and processes are clearly defined
📚 Discipline-Specific Journals
Journals focused on a specific academic field or subject area.
✅ Eligible if they demonstrate meaningfully contribution and scholarly relevance
🚀 Emerging / New Journals
Recently launched journals aiming to establish credibility.
⚠️ Eligible subject to initial evaluation and ongoing monitoring
The Journal Registry does not discriminate between publishing models. All journals are evaluated based on their editorial quality, transparency, ethical practices, and contribution to scholarly communication.

Submission of
Journal Title

If your journal meets the Journal Registry criteria, you may submit it through the Publisher Portal for structured evaluation and consideration.

Upon submission, a unique Tracking ID will be generated, allowing you to monitor the progress of your journal throughout the evaluation process with full transparency.

Submit Journal

Evaluation Process

Journals may be submitted to the Journal Registry for evaluation by publishers or authorized representatives through the Publisher Portal. The Journal Registry applies a structured, transparent, and efficient evaluation process to assess journals based on their credibility, integrity, and transparency of publishing practices.

Before submitting a journal for evaluation, publishers are advised to:
  • Check the Journal Registry listings to ensure that the journal is not already included
  • Review the Journal Selection Policy and Criteria to confirm eligibility
  • Ensure that all required journal information and policies are publicly available on the journal website
  • Verify that the journal adheres to ethical publishing practices and international standards
  • Prepare accurate and complete information for submission through the Publisher Portal
Core Evaluation Principles
Integrity
Adherence to ethical publishing and responsible research practices
Transparency
Clear and accessible information about policies and processes
Accountability
Defined editorial responsibilities and governance structures
Consistency
Regular and reliable publication practices
Inclusivity
Fair consideration of journals across regions and publishing models
Final Decision

Based on the evaluation, the journal will receive one of the following outcomes:

  • Accepted – The journal meets Journal Registry standards and is included
  • Revision Required – Improvements are needed before inclusion
  • Not Accepted – The journal does not meet the required criteria
Communication of Decision

The outcome of the evaluation, along with reviewer comments (where applicable), will be communicated to the publisher or authorized representative upon completion of the review.

In case of non-acceptance, the journal may be resubmitted after addressing the identified issues. A cooling-off period may apply before resubmission.

Scope of
Evaluation

The Journal Registry conducts journal-level evaluation only, focusing on:

  • Editorial governance and management
  • Transparency of journal operations
  • Integrity of peer review processes
  • Publishing policies and ethical standards
  • Technical and infrastructural reliability
  • Consistency and sustainability of publishing practices

Individual articles, citations, or research findings are not assessed as part of the inclusion process.

Key Selection Criteria

To be considered for inclusion, journals must demonstrate the following:

1. Journal Legitimacy & Identity
  • Valid ISSN (print and/or online)
  • Clearly defined journal title, scope, and publisher information
  • Verifiable contact details and official website
2. Editorial Governance
  • Identifiable Editor-in-Chief and editorial board
  • Transparent editorial structure and affiliations
  • Evidence of active editorial oversight
3. Peer Review Integrity
  • Clearly defined and publicly available peer review policy
  • Transparent description of the review process
  • Evidence of independent and unbiased editorial decisions
4. Transparency of Policies
  • The journal must provide publicly accessible information on:
  • Author guidelines
  • Editorial policies
  • Publication frequency
  • Fees (if applicable)
  • Peer review process
5. Ethical Standards & Research Integrity
  • Clear policies addressing:
  • Plagiarism
  • Authorship criteria
  • Conflicts of interest
  • Retractions and corrections
  • Demonstrated commitment to ethical and responsible publishing practices
6. Publishing Infrastructure
  • Functional and accessible journal website
  • Use of standard publishing tools (preferred)
  • DOI assignment (e.g., Crossref)
  • Digital archiving mechanisms (e.g., LOCKSS, Portico)
7. Consistency & Sustainability
  • Regular publication schedule
  • Evidence of continuity and long-term commitment

Evaluation Approach

The Journal Registry employs a hybrid evaluation model:

  • AI-assisted analysis to assess structural, technical, and transparency indicators
  • Expert human review to evaluate editorial quality, ethical standards, and contextual factors

This approach ensures efficient, consistent, and objective assessment, while preserving the importance of academic judgment and expert oversight.

Decision Outcomes

Following evaluation, journals may receive one of the following outcomes:

✅
Accepted
Meets Journal Registry standards
⚠️
Revision Required
Improvements needed prior to inclusion
❌
Not Accepted
Does not meet required criteria

Ongoing Monitoring

Inclusion in the Journal Registry is not permanent. Journals are subject to:

  • Periodic review
  • Continuous monitoring of publishing practices

Journals that fail to maintain standards may be reassessed or removed.

Grounds for Rejection or Removal

A journal may be rejected or removed if:

⚠️
False or misleading information is provided
⚠️
Evidence of deceptive or predatory practices is identified
⚠️
Editorial or peer review processes lack credibility
⚠️
Ethical standards are not maintained

Our Commitment

The Journal Registry is committed to strengthening trust in scholarly publishing by:

✓
Promoting credible and transparent journals
✓
Supporting responsible publishing practices
✓
Protecting researchers from unethical and misleading publication venues
Evaluating journals. Strengthening trust. Safeguarding research integrity.