About the Journal

The International Journal of Media & Development Communication (IJMDC) is an interdisciplinary, biannual, academic journal that undergoes a double-blind peer review process. It is dedicated to research exploring the linkages between communication, media, and development. The journal is published both online and in print by the Department of Media & Development Communication, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan.

IJMDC welcomes contributions from scholars worldwide. Academicians, researchers, and students engaged in communication, media practices, and development issues both globally and locally are encouraged to submit their original research. The journal publishes unpublished and original research papers, project reports, and book reviews that are directly or indirectly related to communication, media, and development. IJMDC releases its issues in June and December.

Focus & Scope

IJMDC is committed to representing a diverse range of intellectual traditions within the media and communication field, fostering debate and dialogue. We welcome empirical, theoretical, and methodological research papers that contribute to the advancement of media, communication sciences and development studies as an interdisciplinary discipline. We encourage submissions of original papers based on systematic reviews, meta-analysis, and syntheses from diverse sources. Please note that IJMDC accepts papers exclusively in English.

We invite research in the following broad areas, including but not limited to

  • Media, Communication, and Development
    • Media for Sustainable Development and Social Transformation
    • Development Communication, Public Policy and Governance Systems
    • Political Communication
    • Communication Theory
    • Strategic Communication
    • War, Conflict & Communication
    • Media and Rural Development
    • Media and Education
    • Media and Development in Emerging Economies
  • Environment, Health, and Risk Communication
    • Environmental Communication and Climate Change Discourse
    • Science Communication and Public Engagement
    • Health Communication
    • Risk and Disaster Communication in Vulnerable Communities
    • Agricultural Communication and Rural Innovation
  • Digital Media, Access, and Inclusion
    • Digital Humanities
    • Digital Media for Social Change and Civic Participation
    • (In)equities in Communication Technologies and the Digital Divide
    • ICT4D (Information and Communication Technologies for Development)
    • AI, Algorithms, and Emerging Technologies in Development Communication
    • Digital Literacy and Inclusion in Marginalized Communities
  • Culture, Identity, and Representation
    • Cultural Development, Media Power, and Representation
    • Media and Gender Equity: Global and Local Perspectives
    • Media & Human Rights
    • Media Pluralism, Diversity, and Sustainable Societies
    • Indigenous and Community Media in Development
    • Participatory and Vicarious Media Discourses
  • Media Forms and Expression
    • Art, Film, and Visual Media for Social Change
    • Popular Culture, Storytelling, and Social Messaging
    • Transmedia Narratives in Social Movements
    • War, Conflict, & Communication
    • Creative Communication for Advocacy and Awareness
  • Institutions, Policy, and Training
    • Media Policy, Ethics, and Development Regulation
    • Media Capacity Building and Workforce Development
    • Organizational Communication and Institutional Development
    • Globalization of Media and Communication Flows
    • Media Systems and Press Freedom in Developing Contexts
  • Public Relations and Advertising in Development
    • Strategic PR for Social Impact 
    • Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) & Communication 
    • Advocacy and Public Affairs Communication 
    • Crisis Communication and Reputation Management 
    • Influencer Engagement & Social Movements 

Publication/Processing Charges
The Journal does not charge authors any processing, printing or publication fees.

Editorial Policies

This policy outlines the guidelines for the journal's publication process. The International Journal of Media & Development Communication (IJMDC) is committed to maintaining the highest standards set by reputable publishing groups and leading journals in the field.

Authorship

An individual who makes a significant contribution to the development of a manuscript is recognized as an author. IJMDC defines authorship based on the following criteria:

  • The author must have made a substantial contribution to conceptualizing the work, interpreting data, or participating in its acquisition and analysis.
  • The author must have contributed to drafting the manuscript and reviewing it to enhance the quality of intellectual content.
  • The author must have given final approval of the version to be published.
  • The author must be accountable for any questions regarding the accuracy or integrity of the work and ensure appropriate investigation when required.

Acknowledgment

Individuals who do not meet the criteria for authorship but have contributed to the development of a manuscript should be acknowledged. This includes those who have provided resources, funding, or other forms of support essential to the research.

Submission of Manuscript

Authors should review the Instructions for Authors on the journal’s webpage before submitting their manuscript. All listed authors must meet the authorship criteria specified above and approve the final version before submission. Once a manuscript is submitted, it is assumed that all authors have read and given their consent for its submission.

Conflict of interest

A conflict of interest (COI) arises when an individual's personal interests diverge from their responsibilities in research publishing and scientific activities. Such competing interests may be perceived as influencing the individual's behavior and judgment. Authors are required to disclose any competing interests that could affect the development of their manuscript. Reviewers and editors should refrain from evaluating manuscripts where a conflict of interest exists. 

Misconduct

Misconduct refers to violations of field-specific guidelines, including publication ethics, journal policies, and editorial standards. Any activity that harms or compromises the integrity of the research and publication process is considered misconduct. Any suspected case of misconduct is subject to investigation under international policies governing publication ethics.

Open Access

Every peer-reviewed research article published in the journal will be freely accessible to everyone on the internet in an easily readable format, immediately upon publication. Additionally, the journal does not charge any fees for publication.

Plagiarism Policy

The IJMDC will evaluate all cases of plagiarism in accordance with its policies. If plagiarism is detected at any stage of the publication process by an editorial board member, reviewer, or editor, the authors will be notified and required to either rewrite the content or properly cite the plagiarized material.

If plagiarism exceeds 19%, the article may be rejected, and the authors will be informed accordingly.

 Plagiarism detected after Publication

If the editorial team detects plagiarism after a paper has been published, they will conduct an investigation and notify the sponsors as well as the author's affiliated institution. Additionally, the PDF will be marked on every page indicating that it contains plagiarized content. Depending on the extent of plagiarism found, the paper may even be retracted.

Originality

When submitting a manuscript, it is understood that the work is original and has neither been published nor is under consideration elsewhere. Plagiarism including the duplication of an author's previous work without proper citation will not be tolerated. Submitted manuscripts may be checked using anti-plagiarism tools.

Misrepresenting another person's ideas, words, or expressions as one's own constitutes plagiarism and violates copyright law. Forms of plagiarism include:

  • Copying content verbatim from another source.
  • Intentionally using portions of another author's paper without attribution.
  • Reproducing elements from another work such as figures, tables, illustrations, graphs, or equations without proper citation.
  • Using downloaded text from the internet without acknowledgment.
  • Copying or downloading images, pictures, or graphics without crediting the source.

Accepted File Types

Please ensure that the total size of your files does not exceed 5 MB. Manuscripts should be submitted in .doc format.

AI Use Policy

The following uses of AI tools are strictly strictly prohibited:

  • Generating research content (e.g., introduction, analysis, conclusion)
  • Fabricating references, data, or quotes
  • Listing AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Bard) as authors
  • Submitting AI-generated manuscripts with minimal human contribution

These practices violate the authorship criteria and ethical publishing standards upheld by IJMDC.

Editorial Screening

IJMDC reserves the right to

  • Screen submissions using AI-detection tools
  • Request clarification or revision if AI-generated content is suspected
  • Reject or retract manuscripts that violate this policy

For inquiries, contact us at:
info.ijmdc@pu.edu.pk