Author Guidelines

Thank you for your interest in publishing with Communicare Journal of Communication Studies. To ensure a smooth evaluation and publication process, all authors must strictly adhere to the guidelines outlined below. Manuscripts that do not comply with these instructions may be returned to the authors without peer review.

1. General Submission Policies

  • Originality and Plagiarism: All submitted manuscripts must be original works that have not been previously published elsewhere (in any journal, conference proceedings, or other media) and are not currently under consideration by another journal.

  • Authorship and Metadata: Full names, institutional affiliations, and correct email addresses of all co-authors must be accurately registered in the Open Journal System (OJS) metadata for correspondence purposes.

  • Manuscript Length: The complete manuscript, including references, tables, and figures, must be between 4,000 and 8,000 words.

  • Language: Manuscripts must be written in clear, concise, and grammatically correct English.

  • Submission and Communication: All submissions must be uploaded electronically via our Open Journal System (OJS) portal. Editorial and tracking correspondence will be conducted through both the OJS platform and our official email at [email protected].

  • Editorial Authority: The Editorial Team reserves the right to edit the manuscript’s layout and language formatting to align with the journal's house style, without altering the essential substance, findings, or scientific integrity of the work.

  • Peer Review Process: Upon passing the initial editorial screening, the manuscript will undergo a double-blind peer review by independent expert reviewers. Authors will be required to revise their manuscript in accordance with the reviewers' comments and suggestions within the designated timeframe.

2. Technical Formatting Specifications

  • File Format: Manuscripts must be submitted in Microsoft Word format (.doc or .docx).

  • Page Layout: A4 paper size with Normal margins (1 inch or 2.54 cm on all sides).

  • Typography: Cambria font, 12 pt size, with 1.15 line spacing.

  • Style Template: For structural and detailed styling, please download and strictly follow the official Article Template available on the OJS sidebar menu.

3. Manuscript Structure and Systematics

Title

The title must be clear, concise, informative, and accurately reflect the core focus of the research. It must not exceed 12 words.

Abstract

The abstract must be provided in two languages: English and Indonesian. It should be a single, concise paragraph of a maximum of 200 words that comprehensively summarizes the following elements:

  • Research background and objective.

  • Research methods and approach.

  • Key findings, outcomes, and conclusions.

Keywords

Keywords represent the primary concepts of the paper. Provide exactly 5 keywords, written in lowercase, arranged alphabetically, and separated by a semicolon (e.g., communication; culture; environment; human; city).

Introduction

The introduction should immediately engage the reader and must contain the following components:

  • General Background: A brief introductory contextualization of the study (less than 1 paragraph).

  • State of the Art: A succinct literature review of recent previous studies (approx. 1–2 paragraphs) to ground the study within the existing academic discourse.

  • Gap Analysis: A clear, explicit statement highlighting the research gap—demonstrating what is missing from previous studies and why this research is essential.

  • Novelty & Contribution: A clear statement of the study's original scientific contribution, heavily backed by recent journal references (ideally from the last 10 years).

  • Objective: A straightforward and explicit declaration of the research objective at the end of the section.

Methodology

This section describes the research design, operational stages, procedures, data collection instruments, and techniques for data testing and analysis. The methodology must be explained scientifically and supported by authoritative methodological references.

Results and Discussion

This section presents the empirical findings and analyzes them critically using the specific methods declared in the methodology section. Authors must:

  • Directly answer the research problems or objectives.

  • Interpret the results by linking them to relevant scientific concepts, communication theories, or previous literature.

  • Articulate the implications of the new knowledge generated.

  • Use clearly labeled tables, figures, diagrams, graphics, or sketches to enhance data interpretation where appropriate.

Conclusion

The conclusion must not simply repeat the results. It should provide a synthesis that links the "Introduction" (objectives/gaps) to the "Results and Discussion." Authors should also state the theoretical or practical implications of the findings, the limitations of the study, and recommendations for future research.

4. References and Citation Guidelines

  • Citation Style: All in-text citations and the reference list must strictly adhere to the APA (American Psychological Association) Style. Authors are highly encouraged to use citation tools such as Mendeley. A guide to APA style can be accessed via Mendeley APA Citation Guide.

  • Source Integrity: Every source cited within the text must be listed in the References, and vice versa.

  • Minimum Quantity: The bibliography must contain a minimum of 15 reference sources.

  • Primary Source Ratio: At least 60% of the references must come from primary scientific literature (i.e., peer-reviewed journal articles). A maximum of 40% may come from textbooks or secondary literature containing conceptual frameworks and theories.

  • Recency: To justify the novelty and timeliness of the research, references must be selected predominantly from the last 10 years.