PUBLICATION ETHICS

MADIA: Journal Humas dan Media Kontemporer is committed to maintaining the integrity, quality, and credibility of scholarly publishing through the implementation of high ethical standards. All parties involved in the publication process, including authors, editors, reviewers, editorial board members, and the publisher, are expected to adhere to ethical principles based on best practices in scholarly publishing and the guidelines established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

1. Responsibilities of Authors

Authors are required to ensure that submitted manuscripts comply with the following principles:

Present original, honest, and accurate research findings.
Avoid plagiarism, data fabrication, data falsification, citation manipulation, and duplicate publication.
Ensure that the manuscript has not been previously published and is not under consideration by another journal.
Provide proper and complete acknowledgment of all sources used.
Assign authorship only to individuals who have made significant contributions to the research and manuscript preparation.
Disclose all sources of funding and any potential conflicts of interest that may influence the research outcomes.
Promptly notify the editor if a significant error or inaccuracy is discovered in the submitted or published work.
Obtain the necessary ethical approvals for research involving human participants, organizations, or sensitive data.

2. Responsibilities of Reviewers

Reviewers play a vital role in maintaining the scholarly quality of published articles through an objective and constructive peer-review process. Reviewers are expected to:

Conduct reviews objectively, fairly, and based on academic merit.
Maintain the confidentiality of all information contained in the manuscript.
Not use any unpublished material disclosed in a submitted manuscript for personal advantage or the benefit of others.
Provide clear, constructive, and professional feedback to authors.
Identify possible plagiarism, duplicate publication, or other ethical concerns and report them to the editor.
Decline the review assignment if a conflict of interest exists that could affect impartial judgment.
Complete the review process within the timeframe specified by the journal.

3. Responsibilities of Editors

Editors are responsible for safeguarding the integrity and quality of the editorial process. Editors shall:

Evaluate manuscripts solely on their academic merit and scientific contribution, without discrimination.
Ensure that the peer-review process is fair, objective, and independent.
Maintain the confidentiality of manuscripts, authors, and reviewers.
Avoid conflicts of interest in editorial decision-making.
Make publication decisions based on reviewers’ recommendations and academic considerations.
Investigate allegations of publication misconduct and take appropriate action when necessary.
Issue corrections, clarifications, retractions, or other necessary measures when ethical violations or significant errors are identified after publication.

4. Responsibilities of the Publisher

The publisher supports editorial independence and ensures that publication decisions are not influenced by commercial, institutional, or personal interests. The publisher is also responsible for:

Supporting the consistent implementation of publication ethics.
Maintaining the sustainability and accessibility of scholarly publications.
Providing a transparent and accountable journal management system.
Supporting the resolution of publication ethics cases according to established standards and procedures.

5. Plagiarism and Publication Misconduct

MADIA does not tolerate any form of publication misconduct, including but not limited to:

Plagiarism.
Self-plagiarism.
Data fabrication and falsification.
Citation manipulation.
Duplicate or redundant publication.
Manipulation of the peer-review process.
Improper authorship attribution.
Failure to disclose conflicts of interest.

All submitted manuscripts will undergo similarity screening using plagiarism detection software. Manuscripts found to violate publication ethics may be rejected, retracted, or subject to other corrective actions depending on the severity of the violation.

6. Conflict of Interest

Authors, reviewers, and editors must disclose any personal, professional, institutional, or financial relationships that could potentially influence their objectivity during the publication process. Individuals with conflicts of interest should refrain from participating in the evaluation or decision-making process.

7. Handling Allegations of Research and Publication Misconduct

In cases of suspected ethical misconduct, the editorial team will conduct a fair, objective, and confidential investigation in accordance with COPE guidelines. Authors will be given the opportunity to respond to allegations before a final decision is made. Depending on the findings, the journal may issue warnings, request corrections, reject submissions, retract published articles, or implement other appropriate measures to preserve the integrity of the scholarly record.

8. Commitment to Academic Integrity

MADIA is committed to promoting a culture of honesty, transparency, accountability, and academic integrity in scholarly publishing. All parties involved in the publication process are expected to uphold these principles to ensure the dissemination of high-quality and trustworthy research in the fields of communication studies, public relations, media, and contemporary communication.