Get your Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication paper right the first time: a ready-made structure with the right abstract and citations, so editors see your science, not formatting slips.
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Authored by Sumalatha Gangadhar | Published on 17 August, 2026
Submitting to Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication goes smoothly when your draft already matches the journal's own rules. Editors screen new manuscripts against the Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication guide for authors before peer review, so formatting, structure, and required statements should be right on the first draft rather than repaired during upload. This template sets that structure up for you.
It is a manuscript shell aligned to Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication. It covers front matter, the abstract the journal expects, a body organized to the journal's article types, and a reference list in the journal's required style. Confirm current scope and article types on the Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication journal page before you draft.
Prepare the title, authors, affiliations, and ORCID iDs. Write the abstract to the journal's rule and word limit, organize the body to the article type, and apply the required reference style from the first citation. Complete every declaration (ethics, competing interests, funding, data availability) the Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication guide for authors lists, and cite figures and tables in order.
The common failure modes are formatting or reference style that does not match the guide for authors, missing required statements, and an incomplete portal checklist. Clear all three against the Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication guide for authors before you submit.
The shell mirrors what editorial staff check first: article-type fit, the abstract rules, required declarations, and the journal's reference style. For more detail see the author resources. When your draft is ready, upload it through ScholarOne (Manuscript Central).
| Element | J Computer-Mediated Commun requirement |
|---|---|
| Abstract | Unstructured abstract required, maximum of 250 words. The guide states: 'Page 1 must include an abstract (maximum of 250 words)'. In the abstract, avoid citations, acronyms, and abbreviations. No requirement for structured format or mandatory headings is stated |
| Main text | All manuscripts should be under 10,000 words total (including the abstract and all references, tables, figures, appendices, and endnotes). Special circumstances warranting longer submissions require pre-approval via email to the Editor-in-Chief at jcmc-editor@umich.edu. Standard formatting: 12-point Times New Roman font, double-spaced, 1.0-inch margins. Maximum of 5 heading levels following APA 7th style |
| Declarations | Ethics approval/consent as applicable; competing interests; funding; data availability |
| Figures/tables | Publication-ready; cited in order |
| Supplemental | Upload separately when used |
| Keywords | 5-7 keywords required. The guide specifically states: 'Page 1 must include an abstract (maximum of 250 words), and 5-7 keywords.' |
| References | APA 7th edition style. The guide states: 'All submitted manuscripts must be prepared in strict accordance with the 7th of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA Style)' and 'Manuscripts that do not follow APA 7th style or the above requirements or that are otherwise deemed unsuitable for publication will be returned to the author(s) without review.' References must include DOI where available |
| Peer review | Double-blind/double-anonymous. The journal 'adheres to a policy of anonymous peer reviewing, in which the identity of the author will not be identified in the copies given to reviewers, and reviewers will not identify themselves in their review.' Authors must remove all author names and institutional information from manuscripts to enable anonymous peer review |
| Submission | mc.manuscriptcentral.com/jcmc |
Read the Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication guide for authors once before drafting and once before upload. Draft the abstract after results are stable. Set the reference style before adding citations. Keep a cover letter that states your contribution and fit to Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication in under a page.
Skim two or three recent J Computer-Mediated Commun papers to calibrate depth and figure style. Make the novelty clear in the first two pages. Deposit data and code when the policy on the Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication journal page requires it. Disclose any preprint or conference version with identifiers in the cover letter.
Do one focused pass against the Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication guide for authors: scope, length, reference style, required declarations, and figure quality. Then submit through ScholarOne (Manuscript Central).