Submissions

Author Guidelines

Open Access

JOCMAS operates under an open-access model, ensuring all published content is freely accessible online. Authors retain copyright, allowing others to share and adapt the work with proper attribution.

Peer Review and Ethics

All manuscripts undergo a rigorous double-blind peer-review process. Authors must submit original, unpublished work not under consideration elsewhere. Ethical misconduct such as plagiarism, data manipulation, or redundant publication will result in rejection and potential reporting to relevant bodies, in line with COPE guidelines.

Use of Generative AI Tools

Authors must disclose any use of Generative AI (e.g., ChatGPT, Bard, Claude) in the writing, analysis, or formatting of the manuscript. AI tools may assist with language refinement or idea generation, but must not be listed as authors. The final work remains the full responsibility of the human authors, who are accountable for the accuracy, originality, and ethical integrity of the content.

Preparing Your Paper

Article Types

• Original Research Articles (6,000–8,000 words)
• Review Articles (up to 8,000 words)
• Conceptual Papers (4,000–6,000 words)
• Case Studies / Practice Notes (3,000–5,000 words)
• Book/Media Reviews (1,000–2,000 words)
• Essays/Commentaries (1,500–3,000 words)
• Seminar/Conference Presentations (3,000–5,000 words)

All word limits include references, footnotes, tables, and appendices.

Style Guidelines

• Follow APA 7th edition citation and referencing style.
• Use British English throughout.
• Maintain an inclusive, bias-free, and professional academic tone.
• Ensure clarity, coherence, and logical flow across sections.

Formatting and Templates

• Submit manuscripts in Microsoft Word (.docx) format.
• Font: Times New Roman, size 12, double-spaced, 1-inch margins.
• Use APA-style heading levels (bold, title case, left-aligned).
• Include line numbers and page numbers throughout.

References

All citations and references must conform to APA 7th edition style. Every in-text citation must appear in the reference list, and all references must be cited in-text.

Example (Journal Article):

Mensah, K., & Osei, F. (2021). Media framing and political participation in Ghana. African Journal of Media and Society, 3(2), 45–60. https://doi.org/10.xxxx/ajms.2021.0045

Editing Services

JOCMAS recommends that authors who need editorial assistance use reputable English language editing services before submission.

Checklist: What to Include

• Title page with author(s)’ full names, affiliations, and contact info.
• Abstract (150–200 words) 
• Keywords of up to 5
• Full manuscript text, anonymised for peer review.
• Tables and figures with clear labels and source notes.
• Reference list in APA 7 style.
• Disclosure and conflict of interest statement.
• ORCID (recommended).
• Acknowledgements and author contribution notes, if applicable.

Using Third-Party Material

Authors must secure permission to use any copyrighted or third-party material (e.g., images, charts, extended quotes) and include appropriate acknowledgements and attributions in the manuscript.

Disclosure Statement

All authors must declare any potential financial or non-financial conflicts of interest. If none exist, please state: “The authors declare no conflict of interest.”

Complying with Ethics of Experimentation

Research involving human subjects must be approved by an Institutional Review Board (IRB) or Ethics Committee. Where applicable, indicate the name of the approving institution and ethics approval number.

Consent

Written informed consent must be obtained for all interviews, surveys, or identifiable personal data included in the paper. Authors must confirm this in the manuscript.

Health and Safety

Authors should describe any safety protocols or procedures followed during research, particularly for fieldwork or experimental studies.

Submitting Your Paper

Submit manuscripts via the JOCMAS online submission portal (https://jocmas.unimac.edu.gh/index.php/jocmas/about/submissions). Prepare a blinded manuscript file for review and a separate title page with author information.

Publication Charges

There are no submission or article processing charges (APCs).

Copyright Options

Authors retain copyright, therefore, JOCMAS permits reuse, adaptation, and sharing with proper credit.

Complying with Funding Agencies

Authors must ensure compliance with funders’ publication and open-access mandates. A funding statement should be included in the manuscript.

My Authored Works

Published authors are encouraged to share their work via institutional repositories, ResearchGate, Academia.edu, and social media, with full citation to the journal.