Jump to: Manuscript Submission | The Review Process | The Publishing Process
MANUSCRIPT SUBMISSION
Please email manuscripts (and accompanying materials, if applicable) as attachments to CSSC Editor Daren C. Brabham at csscjournal [at] gmail.com, where “[at]” is replaced with the @ symbol.
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THE REVIEW PROCESS
The CSSC Editor will review all manuscripts for their compliance with submission requirements and for general fit with the journal’s mission and standards. Manuscripts will then be sent to at least two reviewers. In the case of conflicting opinions, additional reviewers may be consulted. The CSSC Editor will then issue a decision on the manuscript in light of the reviews. This decision will take one of the following forms:
- Rejection – this means a manuscript is deemed unsuitable for the journal entirely
- Revise-and-resubmit with major revisions – this means a manuscript has the potential to be published, but that the author must undertake a number of revisions and resubmit a new version. This new version will again be sent out for review, and a new decision will be made. Authors who submit a revised manuscript must also include a cover letter detailing the revisions performed in light of reviewer comments.
- Revise-and-resubmit with minor revisions – this means a manuscript has the potential to be published, but that the author must undertake relatively minor revisions and resubmit a new version. Depending on the kind of revisions requested of the author, the new version may be reviewed by the editor alone or in consultation with reviewers or editorial board members. Following this, a new decision will be issued. Authors who submit a revised manuscript must also include a cover letter detailing the revisions performed in light of reviewer comments.
- Accepted for publication – this means a manuscript has been accepted for publication. It will be published pending very minor revisions and technical production edits. At this stage, the CSSC Editor and editorial assistants will work with authors to prepare the manuscript for final publication. Note: it is rare for initial manuscript submissions to be accepted as-is. Per the strength of peer review, the best manuscripts often require some initial revision.
To avoid potential conflicts of interest in the review process, authors who have close professional relationships with the editor (e.g., current and former students/advisees, faculty colleagues at the same institution, past co-authors) will have their editorial decisions handled by a more appropriate editorial board member. Likewise, all manuscript reviews are handled in a double-blind process to prevent bias. Editorial board members, editors, and editorial staff are permitted to submit their work to CSSC, and their submissions will be handled so as to prevent bias.
CSSC believes it is important for quality case studies to be made available to the public quickly. Thus, CSSC strives for rapid turnaround times in the review process. Ideally, the time from submission to decision will be no more than 8 weeks.
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THE PUBLICATION PROCESS
Because CSSC is an online journal, it is not subject to the constraints of print publication schedules. Once a manuscript is fully accepted and technical production edits are complete, it will be published. This means case studies will be published on a rolling basis throughout the year, part of a running volume of cases with no prescribed length or quota. Journals such as the International Journal of Communication are excellent examples of this kind of publishing and numbering system.