Judge by the Content Not the Cover: A Pragmatic Publication Philosophy

The objective of this editorial was to underline the importance of the scientific significance and content of a publication rather than its cover or the hosting journal or publisher in determining its ultimate credibility and merit. I write this editorial in response to a few popular questions often asked by mentees in academia and the industry regarding optimal publication philosophies. Students, mentees, or even experienced scholars usually inquire about what the philosophy of publishing is. Why can it be subjective? Why try to publish in some seemingly impactful journals and not publish in others known as predatory journals? My response is as follows. It may be quite useful for a beginner to publish in high-impact journals to gain a rapid and time-efficient worldwide reputation. However, it is not the journal that determines credibility and value when a student or scholar/scientist becomes specialized and distinguished. Authors are definitely the ones who impact journals and can add value to local and global publishers.