Communication Theory

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Note: All ICA memberships include a subscription to Communication Theory.

Communication Theory publishes research articles, theoretical essays, and reviews on topics of broad theoretical interest from across the range of communication studies. Essays, regardless of topic or methodological approach, must make a significant contribution to communication theory. Data-based papers are appropriate only insofar as they advance new theoretical developments in communication. Communication Theory recognizes that approaches to theory development and explication are diverse. No single approach or set of approaches is privileged.

Submission Guidelines. Effective July 1, 2010, all submitted manuscripts must be prepared in strict accordance with the 6th edition (2nd printing) of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA; see http://www.apastyle.org/). Authors may find the following article from the ICA Newsletter helpful; it details the main differences between the 5th and 6th editions of the APA Publication Manual: (click for article) For more tips, refer to the APA Style Cribsheet.

Manuscripts should be a maximum of 9,000 words in length (including the abstract and all references, tables, figures, appendices, and endnotes).

  1. Page 1 must include an abstract (maximum of 120 words) and selected keywords (at least 5 of author's own).
  2. Page 2 starts with title and main text.
  3. Standard type (12-point font, double-spaced, Times New Roman, 1.0 inch margins) should be used throughout.
  4. Running head and page numbers on top right corner (header) of each page.
  5. References are double-spaced; 2nd and subsequent lines should have hanging indent of 0.5 inch (References should also start on a new page).
  6. All tables, figures, appendices and endnotes should be placed after references.
  7. Submit only 1 main document (including all tables, figures and appendices) in WORD format (.doc) extension. NOTE: We do not accept PDF files.

In addition, please remove all author names and institutional information from manuscripts, so as to enable blinded peer review.

Manuscripts that do not follow these requirements or that are otherwise deemed unsuitable for publication will be returned to the author(s) without review.

PLEASE NOTE THAT WE NO LONGER ACCEPT OFFLINE OR EMAIL SUBMISSIONS. ALL MANUSCRIPTS MUST BE SUBMITTED ONLINE THROUGH MANUSCRIPT CENTRAL: http://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/comth.

Communication Theory staff will process manuscripts in a prompt and professional fashion. In order to expedite reviews and ensure quality in the review process, some manuscripts will be forwarded to an associate editor who will serve as the action editor.

Inquiries regarding manuscripts should be directed to:

Thomas Hanitzsch
Editor, Communication Theory
U of Munich
Institute of Communication Studies and Media Research
Schellingstr. 3, 80799
Munich
GERMANY
Email inquiries can be sent to: hanitzsch@ifkw.lmu.de.

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