Article Processes and Timelines

Article Processing and Timelines

Initial Checks

All submitted manuscripts received by the Journal of Religion and Media Studies (JRMS) will be evaluated by the Managing Editor to ensure proper preparation and compliance with the journal’s ethical standards and author guidelines.

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

After the initial screening, the Managing Editor consults with the Editor-in-Chief or assigned Editors to assess whether the manuscript fits the journal’s scope and demonstrates academic merit. At this stage, the evaluation focuses on relevance and scholarly soundness rather than potential impact. Any rejection decision is confirmed by the Editor-in-Chief.

Submission acknowledgment is provided within 12–24 hours.

Peer Review

Manuscripts that pass the initial checks are assigned to at least two independent reviewers. JRMS applies a double-blind peer-review process in which the identities of both authors and reviewers remain anonymous.

Reviewers are selected based on their expertise in religion, media studies, or related interdisciplinary fields. They may include members of the Editorial Board or external scholars. All reviewers must declare no conflicts of interest.

The following conditions constitute conflicts of interest:

  • Co-authorship with any of the authors within the past three years
  • Affiliation with the same institution
  • Supervisory or student relationships
  • Potential professional or personal benefit
  • Personal relationships with the authors
  • Financial interests related to the manuscript

The review process typically takes up to six (6) weeks.

Editorial Decision and Revision

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

  • Accept Submission: The manuscript meets all requirements and proceeds to copyediting.
  • Revisions Required: Minor revisions are needed. Authors are given one (1) week for revision.
  • Resubmit for Review: Major revisions are required. Authors must provide a detailed response to reviewers. A maximum of three (3) weeks is given, and the manuscript may undergo further review.
  • Decline Submission: The manuscript lacks originality or contains major issues. Resubmission is not permitted.

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

Author Appeals

Authors may appeal editorial decisions by contacting the Managing Editor of JRMS. Appeals must include a detailed justification and a point-by-point response to reviewer comments.

Appeals will be evaluated by the Editor-in-Chief or Editorial Board. The final decision may result in acceptance, re-review, or rejection. Decisions at this stage are final.

Production and Publication

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

Correcting the Record

Authors may request corrections to published articles in cases of significant errors within one week of online publication. All corrections are handled in accordance with the journal’s editorial policies.