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Choose the publication channel

When you are going to publish your research results, it is important that you choose the publication channel with care. How can you reach people most effectively, can you publish open access, and do you understand your rights? Here are some tips on what you need to think about before publishing.


Choose a channel that is a good fit with your research topic

When publishing your research, you need to investigate which publication channels match the scope of your research. The best way to do this is to read up on the scope of different publication channels and look into what has been published in them previously.

Reaching your target audiences

You also need to define your target audience and how best to reach them. Good clues on where and how to reach your target audience can be found in the publications you use and refer to yourself.

Questions to reflect on

Some important questions to consider when choosing a publication channel based on your target audience:

  • In which channels is research usually published in my research area and how do I want to publish my research?
  • Do others in my field of research read what is published in this publication channel?
  • Is this publication channel accessible in the databases where I usually search for information?
  • Is it particularly important to reach professionals in my area of research? If so, how can I best reach them?

Status and impact as criteria

Your choice of publishing channel is often influenced by the status of the publication in its field. This choice is also influenced by the methods used to measure your contributions as a researcher.

Check the journal’s level in the Norwegian Register

Several faculties at Umeå University utilise a Norwegian register of quality publication channels when allocating funding to their departments. Often referred to as "Norska listan" in Swedish, it is a register that assesses journals as fulfilling certain quality criteria at different levels. It may therefore be important to check the level of the journal or the publisher.

Norwegian Register for Scientific Journals, Series and Publishers

Use citation-based metrics

Depending on the publication and qualification process in your area of research, it may be important for you to choose a journal with a relatively high citation rate. You can use citation-based metrics such as the Journal Impact Factor or CiteScore when choosing your publication channel.

Shortcuts to impact factor and journal ranking tools

Publish open access

When you publish open access, more people will be able to read and use your research results. Umeå University therefore recommends that you publish open access. Many funding bodies require projects they fund to publish their results open access.

Read more about publishing open access

Choose a reputable publisher

It is important that you choose quality-assured channels, wherever you choose to publish. You need to check that both the channel and the publisher operate in accordance with established peer-review and publication practices. You can use the guides below to review publishers and also conferences to attend:

Think.Check.Submit.org

Think.Check.Attend.org

Retain your rights

When you publish with a publisher, you will sign a publishing contract with them, which may affect your rights to disseminate and use your publication. So before submitting your manuscript, check how the publisher intends to deal with your rights.

Read more about copyright in publishing

Linking publications to underlying data

When you publish your research results, you often need to describe how and where you are making the underlying research data available. Check the data availability statement (DAS) requirements of the publishing channel and how you can meet their expectations concerning the availability of the research data. Be sure to choose an appropriate repository so that the data is searchable when you make it available.

More information about making your data available

Guidance and support

The Library has produced a guide on things to consider before submitting your manuscript to a publication channel. You can also contact the Library directly if you have questions about publishing.

Read the guide “Build your open publishing strategy”

Contact the Library

Latest update: 2025-05-25

Read more about publishing and impact

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Open access publishing agreements

Publish open access free of charge thanks to publishing agreements.

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Register your publications in DiVA

Find instructions and information about Umeå University's publication database, DiVA.

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Impact of your research

Bibliometrics and altmetrics help you measure and increase the impact of your research.