Submissions

Author Guidelines

The International Journal of Journalism & Mass Communication (IJJMC) invites original, high-quality scholarly submissions from researchers, academicians, practitioners, and policy experts working in the broad domains of journalism, mass communication, media studies, digital media, and allied interdisciplinary fields. The journal aims to promote rigorous research, critical inquiry, and innovative perspectives that contribute meaningfully to academic discourse and professional practice at national and international levels.

1. Scope and Aims of the Journal

IJJMC publishes peer-reviewed research that aligns with its core objectives of advancing knowledge in journalism and mass communication while addressing contemporary challenges such as media regulation, digital transformation, ethics, sustainability, Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS), global communication, and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Submissions must clearly demonstrate relevance to the journal’s thematic focus and contribute either theoretically, empirically, or methodologically to the field.

Manuscripts that fall outside the journal’s scope or fail to engage meaningfully with journalism and mass communication scholarship may be declined at the initial screening stage.

2. Submission and Initial Editorial Assessment

All manuscripts submitted to IJJMC undergo a preliminary editorial evaluation. At this stage, the editor assesses whether the submission:

Fits the aims and scope of the journal
Meets minimum academic and ethical standards
Demonstrates originality and scholarly relevance
Is written in clear, coherent, and professional academic language

Submissions that do not meet these criteria may be desk rejected without being sent for external peer review. Desk rejection is a quality-control mechanism intended to save authors’ and reviewers’ time and to maintain the journal’s academic integrity.

Authors are therefore strongly encouraged to ensure that their manuscript is carefully prepared, logically structured, and thoroughly proofread prior to submission.

3. Peer Review Process

Manuscripts that pass the initial editorial screening are forwarded for double-blind peer review, where both the authors’ and reviewers’ identities remain confidential. Expert reviewers evaluate the manuscript based on:

Originality and contribution to the field
Soundness of theoretical framework
Appropriateness of research design and methodology
Quality of data analysis and interpretation
Clarity of argumentation and conclusions
Ethical compliance and academic rigor

Based on reviewers’ recommendations, the editor will decide whether the manuscript is accepted, accepted with revisions, requires major revisions, or rejected. Authors may be asked to revise their manuscript and respond to reviewer comments within a stipulated timeframe.

4. Ethical Responsibilities of Authors

Ethical integrity is a cornerstone of scholarly publishing at IJJMC. By submitting a manuscript, authors confirm that:

The work is original and has not been published or submitted elsewhere
All sources are properly cited, and plagiarism is strictly avoided
Data presented are accurate and honestly reported

Where applicable, research involving human participants, interviews, surveys, or experiments must have been approved by an appropriate institutional or national ethics committee, in accordance with the legal and ethical requirements of the country where the research was conducted. A clear statement of ethical approval should be included in the manuscript.

5. Authorship and Consent

All individuals listed as authors must have made a substantial intellectual contribution to the research and manuscript preparation. The corresponding author is responsible for ensuring that:

All listed authors have reviewed and approved the final version of the manuscript
All authors consent to being identified as authors in the submission
Any changes to authorship after submission are justified and approved by all authors

Gift authorship, ghost authorship, or misrepresentation of contributions is considered unethical and may result in rejection or retraction.

6. Permissions and Copyright Responsibility

Authors are solely responsible for obtaining written permission to reproduce or adapt any copyrighted material included in their submission, such as:

Photographs and images
Tables, figures, or illustrations
Documents, archival materials, or datasets

Permission documentation should be secured prior to submission and must comply with copyright laws. Failure to obtain necessary permissions may delay publication or lead to rejection.

7. Manuscript Preparation Standards

To improve the likelihood of acceptance and smooth peer review, authors should ensure the following:

a. Title

The title should be concise, precise, and informative, clearly reflecting the central theme or research problem. Avoid overly long or ambiguous titles.

b. Abstract

The abstract must be self-contained and capable of standing alone. It should briefly state:

The research problem or objective
Methodology
Key findings
Major implications

A well-written abstract significantly increases the likelihood of reviewer engagement.

c. Keywords

Provide 4–6 relevant keywords to enhance discoverability and indexing.

d. Structure and Argumentation

The manuscript should follow a logical academic structure, typically including:

Introduction
Literature review
Research objectives or questions
Methodology
Results/Findings
Discussion
Conclusion

Arguments must be clearly articulated, theoretically grounded, and supported by evidence.

8. Language, Style, and Formatting

Manuscripts must be written in clear, formal academic English. Authors whose first language is not English are encouraged to seek language editing support before submission.

Formatting, referencing style, word limits, and citation guidelines should strictly follow the journal’s prescribed standards, as provided in the submission checklist. Non-compliance may result in the manuscript being returned for technical correction.

Submission Preparation Checklist

Before final submission, authors should ensure that:

The manuscript aligns with IJJMC’s aims and scope
The title and abstract are clear and effective
Ethical approval (if required) is obtained and stated
All authors have approved the submission
Permissions for third-party materials are secured
References are complete and properly formatted

All submissions must meet the following requirements.

This submission meets the requirements outlined in the Author Guidelines.
This submission has not been previously published, nor is it before another journal for consideration.
All references have been checked for accuracy and completeness.
All tables and figures have been numbered and labeled.
Permission has been obtained to publish all photos, datasets and other material provided with this submission.

Privacy Statement

The International Journal of Journalism and Mass Communication (IJJMC) app provides access to academic journal content, manuscript submission services, and publication-related information. The app and website may collect limited personal information, including your name, email address, institutional affiliation, and account credentials when you register, log in, submit manuscripts, or contact the editorial office. This information is used solely for journal operations such as manuscript submission, peer review, editorial communication, account management, and publication services.

The app may also collect basic technical information such as device type, IP address, operating system, crash logs, and app usage data to improve security, performance, and user experience. IJJMC does not sell, rent, or share personal information with advertisers or other third parties for marketing purposes. Personal information may only be shared with trusted publishing service providers (such as DOI registration, indexing, archiving, hosting, or plagiarism detection services) when necessary to operate the journal or where required by law.

The app uses secure communication protocols and appropriate technical safeguards to protect user data from unauthorized access, disclosure, or misuse. Users may request access to, correction of, or deletion of their personal information by contacting the editorial office. For more information, please refer to our full Privacy Policy.

1. Information We Collect

A. Personal Information

When you register, submit a manuscript, subscribe, or contact us, we may collect:

Full Name
Email Address
Institutional Affiliation
Country
ORCID ID (optional)
Phone Number (optional)
Postal Address (optional)
Username and Password
Author Biography
Reviewer Information
Editorial Information

B. Manuscript Information

During manuscript submission we collect:

Manuscript files
Supplementary files
Figures and tables
Cover letters
Author metadata
References
Funding information
Ethical approval information (if applicable)

C. Technical Information

When you access our website or mobile application, we may automatically collect:

IP Address
Browser type
Device information
Operating system
Language settings
Access date and time
Pages visited
Session duration
Referring URLs

D. Cookies

Our website may use cookies and similar technologies to:

Maintain login sessions
Improve website functionality
Remember user preferences
Analyze website performance
Enhance security

Users may disable cookies through browser settings; however, some features may not function properly.

2. How We Use Your Information

Your information is collected solely for legitimate journal operations, including:

Manuscript submission
Editorial screening
Peer review
Editorial communication
Publication of accepted articles
DOI registration
Indexing services
Journal archiving
User authentication
Technical support
Website administration
Improving journal services
Compliance with publishing ethics
Preventing fraud and misuse

We do not use your personal information for advertising purposes.

3. Peer Review Confidentiality

All submitted manuscripts are treated as confidential.

Access is limited to:

Editors
Editorial staff
Assigned reviewers

Reviewer identities remain confidential unless an Open Peer Review policy is explicitly adopted.

Reviewers are expected to maintain confidentiality regarding all submitted manuscripts.

4. Sharing of Information

IJJMC does not sell, rent, or trade personal information.

Information may only be shared with trusted service providers necessary for journal operations, including:

DOI Registration Agencies (such as Crossref)
Indexing Services
Digital Archiving Services
Academic Databases
Plagiarism Detection Services
Website Hosting Providers
Email Service Providers

Information may also be disclosed if required by applicable law or court order.

5. Data Security

We implement appropriate administrative, technical, and organizational safeguards to protect personal information against:

Unauthorized access
Data alteration
Data loss
Unauthorized disclosure
Cybersecurity threats

While we strive to protect personal information, no method of internet transmission or electronic storage is completely secure.

6. Data Retention

Personal information is retained only for as long as necessary to:

Maintain the scholarly record
Comply with publication requirements
Meet legal obligations
Resolve disputes
Enforce journal policies

Published article metadata may remain permanently available as part of the academic record.

7. Author Rights

Authors may request to:

Access their personal information
Correct inaccurate information
Update profile details
Withdraw unpublished submissions (subject to editorial policies)
Delete user accounts where legally permissible

Published scholarly records generally cannot be deleted except under established editorial correction or retraction policies.

8. Children's Privacy

IJJMC is intended for researchers, academics, educators, and professionals.

The Journal does not knowingly collect personal information from individuals under the age of 13 (or the minimum age required under applicable law).

9. Third-Party Services

Our website or app may contain links to third-party services, including:

DOI providers
ORCID
Google Scholar
Indexing databases
Institutional repositories

We are not responsible for the privacy practices of external websites.

10. International Data Transfers

Because authors and reviewers may be located worldwide, personal information may be processed or stored in countries other than your own. We take reasonable measures to ensure appropriate protection of personal data.

11. Legal Basis for Processing

Where applicable, we process personal information based on:

User consent
Contractual necessity
Legitimate editorial interests
Compliance with legal obligations

12. Changes to This Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy may be updated periodically.

Changes become effective immediately upon publication on the Journal website.

Users are encouraged to review this page regularly.

_{13. Account & Data Deletion Request}

The International Journal of Journalism & Mass Communication (IJJMC) respects your privacy and provides users with the ability to request deletion of their account and personal data in accordance with applicable privacy laws and Google Play Developer Policies.

_{Request Account Deletion}

If you have created an account on the IJJMC Journal website or mobile application, you may request permanent deletion of your account at any time.

To request account deletion, please contact us using one of the following methods:

Email: support@ijjmc.com

Subject: Account Deletion Request

Please include the following information:

Full Name
Registered Email Address
Username (if applicable)
Reason for deletion (optional)

Our support team may contact you to verify your identity before processing your request.

What Happens When Your Account Is Deleted?

Once your request is verified and approved:

Your login credentials will be permanently removed.
Your profile information will be deleted.
Your personal information associated with your account will be removed from our active systems.
Access to your account will be permanently disabled.

Account deletion is generally completed within 7–30 business days after successful identity verification.

Data That May Be Retained

Certain information may be retained where required by law or for legitimate academic and publishing purposes, including:

Published scholarly articles that have already been accepted or published.
Editorial correspondence necessary to maintain the integrity of the scholarly publication record.
Records required for legal, tax, fraud prevention, dispute resolution, or regulatory compliance.

Any retained information will be securely stored and used only for these purposes.

Request Deletion of Personal Data Only

If you wish to request deletion of specific personal information without deleting your account, please email:

support@ijjmc.com

Subject: Data Deletion Request

Please specify the information you would like removed. We will review your request and respond within a reasonable timeframe.

Processing Time

Most deletion requests are processed within 7–30 business days after identity verification.

14. Contact Us

For questions regarding this Privacy Policy or data protection matters, please contact:

Editorial Office

International Journal of Journalism and Mass Communication (IJJMC)

Email (Editorial): editor@ijjmc.com

Email (Support): support@ijjmc.com

Website: https://ijjmc.com

Support Hours

Monday – Friday

09:00 AM – 06:00 PM (IST)

Saturday, Sunday & Public Holidays: Closed

Office Address