Finland group downgrades 60 journals

A panel of scholars in Finland has downgraded 60 journals in their quality rating system after receiving feedback from researchers. The Finnish Publication Forum (JUFO) assesses journals based on transparency, editorial board expertise, and peer review quality to aid academics in evaluating publication credibility. JUFO's classification ranges from 3 (supreme-level) to 1 (legitimate publication), with level 0 indicating exclusion from the ranking. The move may impact researchers' decisions on where to publish, as Finland's university funding model considers JUFO ratings. Notable publishers affected include MDPI, Wiley, and Frontiers. JUFO's decision to downgrade these journals follows a call for negative experiences to re-evaluate their ranking system. While some publishers expressed disappointment, JUFO stands by its assessment process. The initiative highlights the importance of community feedback in assessing publication quality and advocates for a shift towards researcher-driven quality metrics.