The Global Mass Communication Review (GMCR) is committed to upholding rigorous academic standards through a fair, transparent, and ethical peer review process. We ensure that all submitted manuscripts are evaluated based on their scholarly merit, originality, and contribution to the field of social sciences. The peer review process is central to maintaining the quality and credibility of the journal.

GMCR operates a double-blind peer review process to maintain impartiality and objectivity. In this model:

1. Authors do not know the identities of the reviewers.
2. Reviewers do not know the identities of the authors.

This ensures that the manuscript is judged solely on its academic merit, free from any potential biases.

1. Initial Submission and Editorial Screening:
   1. All manuscripts are submitted online via the GMCR submission system.
   2. Upon submission, the manuscript undergoes an initial screening by the editorial office. The editors assess whether the manuscript aligns with the journal's scope, adheres to submission guidelines, and meets the quality standards.
   3. Manuscripts that do not meet the basic requirements may be rejected at this stage without external review.
2. Reviewer Assignment:
   1. Manuscripts that pass the initial screening are sent to two or more expert reviewers with relevant subject matter expertise.
   2. Reviewers are selected based on their expertise, research background, and independence from the authors to avoid any conflicts of interest.
3. Double-Blind Review:
   1. Reviewers are provided with the manuscript in anonymized form (no identifying author details).
   2. Reviewers assess the manuscript’s quality based on originality, methodology, clarity, relevance, and significance of the contribution to the field.
4. Reviewer Feedback:
   1. Reviewers provide detailed comments and recommendations regarding the manuscript. These can include suggestions for improvements, corrections, or clarifications.
   2. Reviewers recommend one of the following actions:
      1. Accept the manuscript without revisions.
      2. Accept the manuscript with minor revisions.
      3. Revise and resubmit (major revisions required).
      4. Reject the manuscript.
5. Editorial Decision:
   1. Based on the reviewers' feedback, the editorial team makes the final decision.
   2. If revisions are required, the manuscript is returned to the author(s) for revisions. The revised manuscript may be sent back to reviewers for re-evaluation or may be accepted directly by the editorial team.
   3. The final decision is communicated to the authors, along with any necessary feedback from the reviewers.

The review process is typically completed within 4 to 6 weeks from the submission date. However, this may vary depending on the complexity of the manuscript and the availability of expert reviewers.

1. Selection of Reviewers: Reviewers are selected based on their subject expertise and academic credentials. GMCR maintains a diverse pool of reviewers from various disciplines within social sciences to ensure a thorough and informed evaluation process.
2. Confidentiality: All manuscripts under review are treated as confidential documents. Reviewers must not share or discuss the content with others unless expressly authorized by the editorial team.
3. Ethical Review Conduct: Reviewers are expected to conduct their reviews impartially, without bias or conflicts of interest. Any personal, financial, or professional conflicts that may influence the review must be disclosed to the editors.

If authors believe that their manuscript was unfairly rejected, they may appeal the decision by providing a detailed justification for their case. Appeals are carefully reviewed by the editorial team, and in some cases, an independent reviewer may be consulted. However, the final decision after the appeal lies with the editor-in-chief and is considered binding.

GMCR strictly adheres to the ethical standards outlined by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). Reviewers are expected to uphold the principles of fairness, confidentiality, transparency, and integrity in their review work. Authors are also required to respect the peer review process by complying with the guidelines provided and responding to reviewer comments diligently.

To recognize the valuable contributions of peer reviewers, GMCR publicly acknowledges the reviewers' efforts in an annual acknowledgment published on the journal’s website. Reviewers may also receive certificates of contribution upon request.

The peer review process is an essential part of the publication process at GMCR, helping to ensure the quality, credibility, and relevance of the research we publish. By following a structured, ethical, and transparent peer review policy, GMCR maintains its commitment to academic excellence and the integrity of the scholarly record.