Peer Review

SDU Journal of Media Studies қолжазбаны рецензиялау үдерісінде рецензенттер мен авторлардың жеке басы бір-біріне белгісіз болуын қамтамасыз ететін кемінде екі рецензенттің сараптамасынан тұратын анонимді рецензиялау жүйесін (double-blind review) қолданады. Әрбір қолжазба кем дегенде екі рецензентке — зерттеу саласының тиісті бағыттары бойынша танымал шетелдік және отандық ғалымдардан іріктелген мамандарға жіберіледі. Олар жұмысты объективті және мұқият бағалауға міндетті.

Manuscript Decision

Based on the reviewers' feedback, the editors will make one of the following decisions:

Accept without revisions: The manuscript proceeds to the next stage of the editorial process without additional modifications.
Accept with minor revisions: The manuscript is suitable for publication but requires minor changes before further consideration.
Accept with major revisions (conditional acceptance): The manuscript is potentially publishable, but substantial revisions are necessary before further review.
Reject: The manuscript is deemed unsuitable for publication in the journal and will not be reconsidered, even if revised by the authors.

The journal’s editorial board aims to make initial decisions within 25 business days after manuscript submission, but the duration of the peer review process may vary depending on different circumstances.

Peer Review Procedure

Manuscripts are only accepted through the journal’s online submission system.

The editor-in-chief conducts an initial screening to determine whether the manuscript aligns with the journal’s scope and objectives.
If the manuscript meets the journal’s aims and scientific directions, the editor-in-chief forwards it to the managing editor for plagiarism detection and AI-generated content screening. After verification, the managing editor sends it back to the editor-in-chief to initiate the peer review process.
The editor-in-chief selects appropriate experts for the double-blind peer review process.
The managing editor removes author-identifying information and sends the manuscript to the reviewers.
If the manuscript does not align with the journal’s scope, the editor-in-chief may reject it without sending it for review.
The managing editor contacts the reviewers and submits the manuscript for evaluation.
Each manuscript is assigned to at least two independent reviewers.
Reviewers are selected based on their expertise and research experience in the subject matter of the submitted manuscript. To expand the reviewer pool, the journal requests the submitting authors with relevant academic degrees and experience to indicate whether they are willing to serve as future reviewers for SDU Journal of Media Studies while registering to the journal portal.
Reviewers are given 15 working days to complete the review. If necessary, they may request an extension.
Reviewers are reminded that submitted manuscripts contain copyrighted and unpublished information. They are prohibited from inserting manuscripts into AI databases.
The managing editor forwards reviewers’ comments and suggestions to the authors without disclosing reviewer identities.
If minor revisions are required, the manuscript is sent back to the author(s) for revision. The revised manuscript must be resubmitted within 10 business days, and authors must provide clear responses to each reviewer comment.
If authors fail to resubmit within 10 business days, they may submit their manuscript as a new submission, in which case it will be considered as a newly received manuscript.
If major revisions are required, the manuscript is sent back to the author(s) for substantial modifications. The revised manuscript must be resubmitted within 20 business days, with authors addressing all reviewer comments.
If authors fail to resubmit within 20 business days, they may submit their manuscript as a new submission, and the editors will treat it as a newly received article.
If the author disagrees with the reviewer’s comments, they have the right to submit a reasoned response to the journal’s editorial board. The manuscript may then be reconsidered or forwarded for approval by the editorial board.
If the author refuses to revise the manuscript, they must notify the editorial office in writing of their withdrawal from the publication process.
The final decision regarding the manuscript’s acceptance is made by the editor-in-chief, or, if necessary, by the entire editorial board. The managing editor informs the author of the editorial decision.
If unresolved conflicts arise between the author and the reviewers regarding the content of the manuscript, the editor-in-chief addresses the issue at an editorial board meeting. In case of disagreement, the editor-in-chief makes the final decision.
The editorial board does not engage in discussions with authors regarding its decisions.
Reviews are kept in the journal’s editorial records for three years and may be provided to the Committee for Control in the Field of Education and Science of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan upon request.

Manuscript review criteria

Research relevance: the article should present new, necessary, and significant contributions to journalism, media, and communications studies.
Literature review: the manuscript must include a comprehensive, critical, and analytical review of relevant literature and identify research gaps.
Research methodology: the appropriateness of the methodology, a clear and detailed description of the data collection process, and a precise explanation of the chosen methods.
Research findings and discussion: a clear presentation of research results, high-quality data analysis, and practical recommendations.
Contribution to the field: the article's findings should contribute to existing literature and general knowledge in the field, provide well-supported arguments for the research question, and offer practical recommendations based on the results.
Style: the manuscript should be written in an academic, clear, and coherent manner.
Ethics: all ethical requirements in conducting research must be strictly followed.