Journal Policy
Journal Policy
Indonesian Discourse on Communication, Democracy, and Political Movements (e-ISSN: XXXX-XXXX) is a peer-reviewed academic journal published by COLLEGIUM JUSTICIA INDONESIA. The journal is committed to maintaining high standards of academic quality, research integrity, transparency, and responsible scholarly publishing.
The journal's policies are designed to support ethical research and publication practices and are informed by internationally recognized standards, including relevant principles and guidance from the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and established practices in scholarly publishing.
1. Publication Scope
The journal publishes scholarly works addressing communication, democracy, political movements, and related interdisciplinary issues. Submissions must demonstrate clear academic relevance to the journal's scope and contribute to scholarly discussion through original research, critical analysis, theoretical development, or systematic synthesis of existing knowledge.
All manuscripts are subject to editorial assessment and, where applicable, peer review before publication.
2. Types of Publications
The journal accepts the following types of scholarly contributions:
2.1 Original Research Articles
Original Research Articles present substantial and original findings based on empirical, qualitative, quantitative, mixed-methods, theoretical, or other appropriate scholarly approaches.
Research articles should include a clear research problem, appropriate methodology, analysis, discussion, and conclusions supported by evidence.
2.2 Review Articles
Review Articles provide a critical and comprehensive synthesis of existing scholarship on a clearly defined topic within the journal's scope.
Depending on the topic and methodology, the journal may consider systematic reviews, scoping reviews, integrative reviews, critical reviews, or other rigorous forms of scholarly review.
Authors should clearly describe the review methodology where applicable.
2.3 Conceptual or Theoretical Articles
Conceptual or theoretical articles develop, examine, or critically evaluate theories, concepts, models, frameworks, or arguments relevant to communication, democracy, political movements, or related fields.
Such articles must demonstrate a clear scholarly contribution and be grounded in relevant literature.
2.4 Policy, Perspective, or Commentary Articles
The journal may consider concise scholarly perspectives, policy analyses, or commentaries addressing significant contemporary issues relevant to its scope.
These contributions must provide substantive academic analysis and should not function primarily as opinion pieces, promotional materials, or unsupported commentary.
2.5 Book Reviews
The journal may publish critical reviews of recently published academic books relevant to its scope.
Book reviews should provide an analytical assessment of the book's contribution, methodology, arguments, strengths, limitations, and relevance to the field.
2.6 Editorials
Editorials may be prepared by the Editor-in-Chief, members of the editorial board, or invited scholars. Editorials may introduce a Special Issue, discuss emerging scholarly developments, or provide context for the articles published in an issue.
Editorials are subject to editorial assessment and may be independently peer reviewed when considered appropriate.
2.7 Special Issue Contributions
The journal may publish Special Issues addressing specific themes, emerging research areas, significant scholarly debates, or topics of particular relevance to the journal's scope.
Special Issue manuscripts are subject to the same standards of academic quality, originality, research integrity, and publication ethics as manuscripts submitted to regular issues.
Guest editors may be appointed to coordinate a Special Issue, but final editorial responsibility remains with the journal's Editor-in-Chief or designated editorial authority.
3. Publication Frequency
The journal is published four times a year, in January, April, July, and October.
The publication of a Special Issue does not necessarily change the journal's regular publication schedule. A Special Issue may form part of a regular issue or, subject to editorial approval, be designated as a separate issue.
4. Peer Review
The journal applies a peer-review process designed to ensure the quality, originality, relevance, and integrity of published manuscripts.
Manuscripts are initially assessed by the editorial team for scope, basic quality, originality, ethical compliance, and suitability for peer review.
Manuscripts that pass the initial assessment are evaluated by qualified reviewers. The journal may use a double-anonymized peer-review process or another appropriate review model as specified in the journal's current peer-review policy.
Editors and reviewers must maintain confidentiality and disclose potential conflicts of interest.
5. Originality and Plagiarism
All submitted manuscripts must be original and must not have been published or simultaneously submitted elsewhere.
The journal may use plagiarism-detection or similarity-screening software as part of its editorial process.
Similarity reports are treated as an editorial screening tool rather than an automatic determination of plagiarism. The editorial team assesses the nature, context, and extent of textual or conceptual overlap before making a decision.
Plagiarism, duplicate publication, redundant publication, fabrication, falsification, and other forms of research or publication misconduct are not tolerated.
6. Authorship and Contributorship
Authorship must reflect substantial intellectual contributions to the research and manuscript.
All listed authors must:
- make a substantial contribution to the research or manuscript;
- participate in drafting or critically revising the manuscript;
- approve the final version; and
- accept accountability for the work.
Individuals who do not meet authorship criteria should be appropriately acknowledged.
The journal does not permit guest, honorary, gift, or ghost authorship.
Any change in authorship after submission requires a clear justification and agreement from all affected authors.
7. Research Ethics
Research involving human participants, personal data, interviews, surveys, or other ethically sensitive activities must comply with applicable ethical standards and legal requirements.
Where required, authors must obtain approval from an appropriate research ethics committee or institutional review board.
Where applicable, informed consent must be obtained from research participants, and appropriate measures must be taken to protect privacy, confidentiality, and personal data.
8. Conflict of Interest
Authors, editors, and reviewers must disclose actual, potential, or perceived conflicts of interest that could influence the research, review, or editorial decision-making process.
Conflicts may be financial or non-financial and may include professional, institutional, personal, academic, or other relationships.
Editors and reviewers with significant conflicts of interest must recuse themselves from the relevant process.
9. Data and Research Transparency
Authors are expected to report research methods and findings accurately and transparently.
Where appropriate and ethically permissible, authors are encouraged to make relevant research data, materials, analytical procedures, instruments, and other supporting information available to facilitate verification and reproducibility.
Data containing confidential, personally identifiable, proprietary, or otherwise restricted information must not be publicly disclosed unless appropriate authorization and ethical safeguards are in place.
10. Artificial Intelligence and AI-Assisted Technologies Policy
The journal recognizes the increasing use of artificial intelligence (AI) and AI-assisted technologies in scholarly research and manuscript preparation.
The journal permits responsible use of AI tools provided that such use does not compromise research integrity, originality, confidentiality, authorship, or accountability.
10.1 AI Use by Authors
Authors may use AI-assisted tools for limited purposes such as:
- language improvement and grammar correction;
- spelling and formatting assistance;
- translation assistance;
- improving clarity and readability; and
- other appropriate editorial or technical assistance.
Authors remain fully responsible for the entire content of the manuscript, including any text, analysis, references, data interpretation, figures, and conclusions produced or assisted by AI.
AI-generated content must not be presented as the author's original intellectual contribution without appropriate disclosure and verification.
Authors must independently verify all AI-assisted content, particularly factual claims, citations, references, quotations, data, and interpretations.
10.2 AI and Authorship
AI tools, including generative AI systems, cannot be listed as authors or co-authors.
Authorship requires human responsibility, accountability, and the ability to participate in the scholarly and ethical responsibilities associated with publication.
Any person using AI-assisted technologies remains responsible for ensuring that the manuscript complies with the journal's ethical, legal, and academic requirements.
10.3 Disclosure of AI Use
Authors must disclose substantive use of generative AI or AI-assisted technologies in the preparation of a manuscript when such use goes beyond routine spelling, grammar, formatting, or language correction.
The disclosure should identify:
- the AI tool or system used;
- the purpose for which it was used; and
- the general nature or extent of its use.
The journal may request additional information concerning AI use when necessary to assess research integrity or authorship.
10.4 AI-Generated Images, Data, or Research Content
Authors must not use AI to fabricate, manipulate, or misrepresent research data, evidence, images, results, quotations, references, or other scholarly materials.
AI-generated images, figures, or other visual materials may only be used when their use is appropriate, transparently disclosed, legally permissible, and consistent with the journal's subject area and applicable ethical standards.
AI must not be used to create or alter research evidence in a manner that could mislead readers.
10.5 AI Use in Peer Review
Reviewers must maintain the confidentiality of manuscripts and unpublished research materials.
Reviewers must not upload confidential manuscripts, reviewer reports, unpublished data, or other protected editorial materials into public or third-party generative AI systems where confidentiality cannot be guaranteed.
Reviewers remain responsible for the content and recommendations contained in their reports.
10.6 AI Use by Editors
Editors must protect the confidentiality of submitted manuscripts and unpublished editorial information.
AI-assisted tools may only be used by editors where appropriate safeguards are in place and where their use does not compromise confidentiality, editorial independence, or the integrity of the peer-review process.
AI tools cannot replace the editor's responsibility for editorial decisions.
11. Corrections, Retractions, and Expressions of Concern
The journal is committed to maintaining an accurate and reliable scholarly record.
When significant errors or ethical problems are identified after publication, the journal may issue a correction, retraction, or Expression of Concern, depending on the nature and severity of the issue.
Retractions may be considered when findings are unreliable, serious ethical violations have occurred, plagiarism is established, or other circumstances substantially compromise the integrity of the published article.
12. Complaints and Appeals
Authors and other stakeholders may submit complaints or appeals concerning editorial decisions, peer review, publication procedures, or ethical matters.
Complaints and appeals will be assessed fairly, objectively, and confidentially.
The journal may request supporting evidence and may consult independent experts or relevant institutions when necessary.
13. Advertising and Commercial Influence
Editorial decisions must remain independent of advertising, sponsorship, commercial interests, or other financial considerations.
Commercial relationships must not influence the selection, peer review, acceptance, rejection, or presentation of scholarly content.
If advertising or sponsorship is accepted by the journal, it must be clearly distinguished from editorial content.
14. Copyright and Licensing
Authors retain or transfer copyright according to the journal's applicable copyright and licensing policy.
Authors must ensure that submitted materials do not infringe the intellectual property rights of others.
Third-party materials must be appropriately cited and, where necessary, reproduced only with the required permission.
The journal's licensing terms shall be clearly stated on the journal website and within published articles.
15. Archiving and Preservation
The journal is committed to preserving published scholarly content and maintaining continued access to the academic record.
Published articles should be archived through appropriate digital preservation or repository arrangements in accordance with the journal's applicable archiving policy.
16. Policy Review
The journal periodically reviews its policies to ensure continued alignment with developments in publication ethics, research integrity, peer review, digital publishing, and responsible use of emerging technologies.
The Editor-in-Chief, editorial board, and publisher may revise these policies when necessary to protect the quality and integrity of the journal.
