Article Processes and Timelines

Article Processing and Timelines

Initial Checks

All submitted manuscripts received by the Editorial team of the Journal of Islam, Media, and Society (JIMS) will be evaluated by the Managing Editor to ensure compliance with the journal’s author guidelines and publication ethics.

Manuscripts that do not meet ethical standards or fall outside the journal’s scope will be rejected prior to peer review. Submissions that are not properly prepared will be returned to authors for revision and resubmission.

After initial screening, the Managing Editor consults the Editor-in-Chief or Editors to assess the manuscript’s relevance and academic soundness. At this stage, evaluation focuses on suitability rather than impact. Any rejection decision is verified by the Editor-in-Chief.

Authors will receive an acknowledgment of submission within 12–24 hours.

Peer Review

Manuscripts that pass the initial checks are assigned to at least two independent reviewers. JIMS applies a double-blind peer-review process, ensuring that both authors and reviewers remain anonymous.

Reviewers are selected based on their expertise and must have no conflicts of interest. Potential conflicts include:

  • Co-publication with authors within the last three years
  • Affiliation with the same institution
  • Supervisory relationships
  • Professional or personal benefit from the review
  • Personal relationships with authors
  • Financial interests related to the manuscript

The review process is typically completed within a maximum of six (6) weeks.

Editorial Decision and Revision

All manuscripts receive at least two review reports. Based on reviewers’ evaluations, the editor will issue one of the following decisions:

  • Accept Submission: The manuscript proceeds to copyediting.
  • Revisions Required: Minor revisions are requested; authors are given one week.
  • Resubmit for Review: Major revisions are required; authors have up to three weeks and must respond in detail.
  • Decline Submission: The manuscript is rejected due to significant issues or lack of originality.

Authors must address all reviewer comments systematically. Disagreements must be supported with clear academic justification.

Author Appeals

Authors may appeal editorial decisions by contacting the Managing Editor of JIMS. Appeals must include detailed responses to reviewer comments and clear justification.

Appeals will be reviewed by the Editor-in-Chief or Editorial Board. Decisions at this stage are final and may include acceptance, re-review, or rejection.

Production and Publication

Accepted manuscripts undergo copyediting, language editing, proofreading, and final formatting. The final version is published online, followed by print publication within one to two weeks.

Correcting the Record

Authors may request corrections for significant errors within one week after online publication. All corrections are handled in accordance with the journal’s editorial policies.