CALL FOR EDITOR
International Communication Research Journal (ICRJ)
The Journal of the International Communication Division
Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC)
About the Journal
The International Communication Division of AEJMC invites applications and nominations for the position of Editor of the International Communication Research Journal (ICRJ). The incoming editor will lead the journal during a pivotal period of growth, shaping its intellectual direction, expanding its global reach, and strengthening its commitment to publishing diverse, high-quality scholarship in international communication.
In keeping with this global mission, the Division welcomes applications from scholars across diverse geographic regions, institutional contexts, and scholarly traditions, and especially encourages candidates whose work engages international, cross-cultural, and Global South perspectives.
ICRJ, the peer-reviewed journal of the AEJMC International Communication Division, is a globally anchored, critically engaged forum that approaches international communication not as geographic scope alone but as a critical orientation — one attentive to asymmetries of power, cross-border flows, and the lived consequences of global communication infrastructures. Committed to moving beyond Western-centric paradigms, the journal publishes rigorous, multidisciplinary, and methodologically plural research, and is particularly invested in amplifying the voices of marginalized communities.
The journal welcomes manuscripts across a broad range of topics, including global journalism, mass communication, cross-cultural and political communication, platform governance, and public opinion; substantive areas such as human rights, climate and environment, health, and migration; and scholarship centering refugees, women, children, Indigenous communities, and other underrepresented groups. Research on all forms of media and communication technologies, as well as work that bridges academic inquiry and professional practice, is also welcome.
Position Overview
The Editor of ICRJ serves a three-year term (renewable once), beginning September 2027. The Editor is responsible for the overall editorial leadership of the journal, including managing the peer review process, maintaining rigorous scholarly standards, and ensuring timely publication of each issue. The Editor reports to the International Communication Division and works in close coordination with the division’s leadership.
Responsibilities
The Editor will be expected to:
• Provide intellectual and strategic leadership for the journal, ensuring its alignment with the mission of the International Communication Division.
• Manage all aspects of the peer review process, including recruiting and coordinating with associate editors and reviewers, as well as maintaining/expanding a diverse and internationally representative editorial board.
• Make final editorial decisions on manuscripts in a fair, transparent, and timely manner.
• Solicit high-quality submissions from scholars worldwide, with particular attention to amplifying Global South perspectives and underrepresented voices in communication research.
• Oversee the publication of regular issues and, where appropriate, special issues and symposia on timely topics in international communication.
• Lead the effort in securing a publisher for the journal.
· Work with the publisher and division leadership to ensure the journal’s sustainability, visibility, and indexing in major databases.
• Present an annual editorial report to the International Communication Division at the AEJMC annual conference.
• Uphold the highest ethical standards in scholarly publishing, including adherence to established guidelines on authorship, conflicts of interest, and research integrity.
Qualifications
Applicants should possess:
• A doctoral degree and a record of scholarly publication in international communication or a closely related field.
• Prior editorial experience with peer-reviewed journals (e.g., editor, associate editor, book reviews editor, editorial board member, or guest editor).
• A demonstrated commitment to interdisciplinary, methodologically diverse, and globally inclusive scholarship.
• Strong organizational, communication, and leadership skills.
• Institutional support for the editorial role (e.g., course release, graduate assistant support, or other resources). A letter of support from the applicant’s institution or department is encouraged.
Application Materials
Interested candidates should submit the following:
• A cover letter outlining the candidate’s vision for ICRJ, including goals for the journal’s scholarly direction, strategies for sustaining the journal’s viability and future development, and plans for enhancing global diversity and inclusion in the journal’s content and review processes.
• A current curriculum vitae.
• A brief statement of relevant editorial experience.
• A letter of institutional support is encouraged, indicating the resources available to the editor (e.g., office space, graduate assistant, course release, or funding for editorial operations).
• Names and contact information of two to three references who can speak to the candidate’s editorial and scholarly qualifications.
Timeline and Application Deadline
· Application Deadline: October 5,2026
· Announcement of New Editor: May 31, 2027
· Start of Editorial Term: September 1, 2027
Submissions and Inquiries
All applications, nominations, and inquiries should be submitted electronically to icrj.submissions@gmail.com by October 5, 2026. For questions about the position, please direct your message to both icrj.submissions@gmail.com and maha.bashri@theafricainstitute.org to ensure a timely response.