When choosing what journal to publish their research in, authors usually return to the same concerns. Which journal will maximize the visibility of my research? What is the journal’s impact factor? Is the journal already established within the academic community?
Indeed, these are all good questions for authors to be asking. And, generally, the ‘bigger’ the journal, the better for research visibility. However, the importance of small journals is growing in today’s publishing landscape.
From streamlined processes, shorter publication times, and exemplary editors to their impact on policy implementation, small journals are attracting more authors due to their benefits. Here, we’ll investigate the growing importance of small journals.
What are journals?
Within academic publishing, journals are periodicals that publish scholarly research. An academic journal typically focuses on a specific subject area or discipline, with experts in relevant fields conducting peer review. Journals primarily serve to keep the research ecosystem up-to-date and highlight the work of current authors.
Academic journals have a long history. In 1660, The Royal Society of London was founded. Five years later, the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London was published; this was the world’s first scientific journal. Publications in this journal underwent some form of peer review. However, it wasn’t until 1731, with the publication of Medical Essays and Observations by the Royal Society of Edinburgh, that a universally recognized method of peer review was established.
Journal publishing today
Fast forward to today, and academic publishing through journals is the dominant method of authenticating and highlighting pioneering research that has real-world impact. Within this publishing landscape, certain journals have established themselves more firmly than others. And the common narrative is that these journals are more prestigious, and therefore better to publish research in.
The purpose of a journal is to disseminate new research to the world. For authors, how their research will be disseminated influences them when it comes to deciding what journal to submit to. Key metrics such as impact factor, number of databases the journal is indexed in, and assumed journal audience size are defining factors in this decision-making process.
That’s why big journals around today, such as Nature, Science, and The New England Journal of Medicine, consistently attract and publish groundbreaking scientific research. Dominant in their fields, the reputation of these established journals only attracts more authors. While these journals often deserve the recognition they’ve earned over time, there are big reasons to look at small journals when publishing your research.
The importance of small journals: why they matter more than ever
The importance of small journals is only growing as we move into an ever-increasingly saturated publishing landscape. There is a growing desire to highlight the impact of smaller journals, so often lost within this busy publishing landscape, and in turn move away from a predominantly monotheistic academic publishing model.
Small journals come with their own unique advantages, too. Here are just some advantages that highlight the importance of small journals:
- Shorter publication times
- Streamlined processes
- High level of editing
- Impact on policy implementation
- Niche-centric
Let’s take a closer look at some of these advantages.
Streamlined processes, high author satisfaction
Many claim that small journals make things easier for authors submitting work. Indeed, ‘lower impact’ publishing and journals have been viewed by certain academics as ‘fair, fast’, with the publication production process being ‘streamlined and easy’ and the work of editors ‘exemplary.’
One might assume that with less incoming submissions, small journals are able to manage and apportion workloads more efficiently. In turn, this can seemingly lead to higher author satisfactions levels during the submission process.
Impact on policy implementation
There has also been research into the impact of small journals on policy implementation. In 2024, a paper entitled “Role of low-impact-factor journals in conservation implementation” presented interesting findings when it comes to the influence of small journals on policy surrounding conservation laws.
The study found that journals that published species-specific information or focused on one kind of organism had a huge influence on the implementation of powerful legal protections for certain species. Out of 785 journals, most of the peer-reviewed articles referenced by the United States Endangered Species Act (ESA) came from low-impact factor or no-impact factor journals. These findings demonstrate the real-world influence of small journals, dismissing the notion that prestige equals impact.
The promotion of niche topics
In addition to influencing policy, small journals help diversify the information ecosphere. A lot of the big journals tend to have broader research scopes. However, this doesn’t necessarily equate to diverse content.
You are more likely to see popular research topics reoccurring in big journals compared to smaller journals. In best case scenarios this can quicken the rate of progress for those subject areas, but it can also cause an overcrowding of information. Small journals tend to focus on niche topics. Although impact factor and audience size for these journals will generally be smaller, the information published is likely to appeal strongly to select experts.
This focus on subject specificity ensures that lesser established subject areas are given due attention and that research articles being published remain varied and inclusive.
Innovation of small journals
Science is always searching for the next big breakthrough. Yet innovation doesn’t necessarily depend on big ideas.
Innovation comes in many different forms, in many degrees, and from many sources. The importance of small journals cannot be understated when it comes to innovation. They ensure that all areas of research are advancing in some way. And the impact this has on science in general is hugely positive.
As science progresses, it’s important that small journals are not left behind. While small journals are proving to have real-world impact, more can be done to support small journals in terms of visibility and awareness.