Author Guidelines

Author Guidelines

Manuscripts submitted to Relations: Journal of Media Studies and Public Relations must be original, unpublished, and not under consideration for publication elsewhere. The journal accepts manuscripts written in Bahasa Indonesia or English in the form of research articles, conceptual papers, and critical review articles relevant to media studies, public relations, communication, journalism, digital media, and related fields. All manuscripts must demonstrate academic merit, clarity of argument, methodological rigor, and relevance to contemporary issues in media and public relations.

The manuscript should be prepared in Microsoft Word format, using A4 paper size, Times New Roman 12 pt, 1.5 line spacing, and 2.5 cm margins on all sides. The recommended length is 5,000–8,000 words, including tables, figures, and references. Manuscripts must be arranged systematically according to the structure below.

Manuscript Structure (IMRAD Format)

Each submitted manuscript should follow the IMRAD structure (Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion), followed by Conclusion, Recommendations, and References.

1. Title and Author Information
The title should be concise, specific, and informative, with a maximum length of 16 words. It must reflect the main issue or focus of the article. Authors should provide their full names without academic titles, followed by institutional affiliations, including department, faculty or institution, and university name. The corresponding author must be clearly indicated, along with a valid email address.

2. Abstract
The abstract must be clear, concise, and descriptive. It should briefly present the research problem, research objectives, methods, main findings, and conclusion. The abstract should not exceed 300 words and must be written in Times New Roman 11 pt. Manuscripts written in Bahasa Indonesia should provide abstracts in Bahasa Indonesia and English, while manuscripts submitted by foreign contributors may provide the abstract in English only. The abstract should be followed by 3–5 keywords representing the main topics of the article.

3. Introduction
The introduction should explain the research background, relevant theoretical framework, and the main issues addressed by the study. Authors are expected to review previous studies, identify the research gap, and clearly state the novelty or contribution of the current article. The research objective or main question should be explicitly stated at the end of the introduction.

4. Methods
This section should describe the research design, approach, data sources, participants or subjects, research instruments, data collection procedures, and analytical techniques in sufficient detail to allow replication. If established methods are used, authors should cite the relevant references and explain only the modifications, adjustments, or innovations introduced in the current study.

5. Results and Discussion
The Results section should present the research findings clearly, systematically, and logically. Tables, figures, or other visual materials may be used where necessary to support data presentation. Authors should avoid repeating the same information in both textual and visual forms. The Discussion section should interpret the findings critically, relate them to the research questions or objectives, compare them with previous studies, and explain their theoretical or practical significance. The discussion should demonstrate the scholarly contribution of the article to the field of media studies and public relations. Excessive citation and mere repetition of results should be avoided.

6. Conclusion
The conclusion should answer the research objectives and summarize the principal findings of the study. It should emphasize the contribution of the article to theory, practice, policy, or institutional development. Authors should also highlight the broader implications of the findings where relevant. The conclusion should not merely repeat the abstract or restate the results without interpretation.

7. Recommendations
Authors may include recommendations derived from the findings of the study. These may be directed to policymakers, practitioners, media professionals, communication institutions, educators, or future researchers, depending on the relevance of the article.

8. References
All sources cited in the manuscript must be listed in the reference section, and all references listed must be cited in the text. References must follow the APA 7th edition style consistently. Authors are strongly encouraged to use recent, relevant, and primary sources, particularly articles published in reputable national and international journals. The use of reference management tools such as Mendeley or Zotero is highly recommended to ensure consistency and accuracy.

Additional Notes

Tables, figures, and illustrations must be numbered consecutively and provided with clear titles. Each table or figure must be referred to in the main text. Authors are responsible for ensuring that all quoted materials, borrowed ideas, and data sources are properly acknowledged. Manuscripts submitted to the journal are subject to a double-blind peer review process; therefore, authors must ensure that the main manuscript file does not contain identifying information.

The journal may screen submissions using plagiarism detection software. Manuscripts containing plagiarism, data fabrication, redundant publication, or other forms of academic misconduct will be rejected. Published articles in Relations: Journal of Media Studies and Public Relations are made available under the journal’s open access policy and copyright provisions, including the use of the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike (CC BY-SA) license where applicable.