Lists not a league table

Historians of Australia have long argued about rating the journals where they publish and now they have decided not to

This was an issue back in 2016 when the AHA decided, albeit with no overwhelming enthusiasm, to create its own journal ranking. “We are conscious above all that historians in Australian universities are currently disadvantaged in promotion, grant and job applications by the lack of rankings that take account of the discipline’s professional standards and expectations for publications in history,” the association announced.

Longue durée history this wasn’t – with the plan quickly called off. Word was historians of Australia feared their journals would be lowly rated, (CMM October 17, 18 2016).

But a way to rank research output was required and after three years it is done. Last month the AHA announced it has compiled a list of existing journal metrics, “to provide members with numerous existing measures to argue the quality of their journals to their university if needed.” That’s list – not league table.