Privacy Statement

The International Journal of Journalism & Mass Communication (IJJMC) is committed to protecting the privacy and personal data of all users of its journal website, including authors, reviewers, editors, and readers. This Privacy Statement explains how personal information is collected, used, stored, and safeguarded in accordance with ethical publishing practices and applicable data protection laws.

1. Collection of Personal Information

IJJMC collects personal information only to the extent necessary for the effective functioning of the journal. This information may include, but is not limited to:

  • Names, institutional affiliations, and academic designations

  • Email addresses and contact details

  • ORCID iDs and researcher profiles

  • Manuscript submissions, review reports, and editorial correspondence

  • Login credentials and system-generated metadata

Such information is collected during processes such as user registration, manuscript submission, peer review, and editorial communication.

2. Purpose of Data Collection

The personal data collected by IJJMC is used exclusively for scholarly and administrative purposes, including:

  • Managing manuscript submissions and peer review

  • Facilitating editorial decisions and publication processes

  • Communicating with authors, reviewers, and editors

  • Maintaining the integrity and transparency of academic publishing

  • Indexing, archiving, and dissemination of published content

Personal information will not be used for commercial purposes or shared with third parties for marketing or advertising.

3. Data Sharing and Confidentiality

IJJMC maintains strict confidentiality of all submitted manuscripts and associated personal data. Information may be shared only with:

  • Editors and editorial board members involved in manuscript processing

  • Peer reviewers for evaluation purposes (within a double-blind review framework)

  • Technical service providers supporting journal operations, where necessary

Under no circumstances will personal data be sold, rented, or disclosed to unauthorized third parties, except where required by law or institutional regulation.

4. Data Security and Storage

The journal employs reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect personal data against unauthorized access, loss, misuse, or alteration. User data is stored securely within the journal’s publishing system and accessed only by authorized personnel.

While every effort is made to safeguard information, IJJMC cannot guarantee absolute security of data transmitted over the internet. Users are encouraged to protect their login credentials and report any suspected security breaches immediately.

5. User Rights and Consent

By registering with or submitting to IJJMC, users consent to the collection and use of their personal data as outlined in this Privacy Statement. Users have the right to:

  • Access and update their personal information

  • Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data

  • Request removal of their personal data, subject to legal, ethical, or archival obligations

Requests related to personal data may be submitted to the journal’s editorial office.

6. Cookies and Website Usage Data

The IJJMC website may use cookies and similar technologies to enhance user experience, maintain session security, and analyze website performance. Cookies do not collect personally identifiable information beyond what users voluntarily provide.

Users may disable cookies through their browser settings; however, certain features of the journal website may not function optimally as a result.

7. Third-Party Links

The journal website may contain links to external websites or resources. IJJMC is not responsible for the privacy practices or content of such third-party sites. Users are encouraged to review the privacy policies of external websites before providing any personal information.

8. Data Retention Policy

Personal data is retained only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes of scholarly publishing, record-keeping, and legal compliance. Published articles and associated metadata may be retained indefinitely for academic integrity, citation, and archival purposes.

9. Changes to the Privacy Statement

IJJMC reserves the right to update or revise this Privacy Statement as necessary to reflect changes in legal requirements, publishing practices, or technological developments. Any updates will be posted on the journal website, and continued use of the site constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.

10. Contact Information

For questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Statement or the handling of personal data, users may contact the editorial office of the International Journal of Journalism & Mass Communication (IJJMC) through the journal website.