Focus and Scope

Focus and Scope

The Arab Media Renewal Journal (AMRJ) is devoted to advancing original, high-impact scholarship that addresses the transformation, innovation, and critical reassessment of media systems, communication practices, and information environments across the Arab world. Grounded in the concept of "renewal" (تجديد), the journal publishes research that transcends descriptive accounts to offer analytical depth, theoretical innovation, and evidence-based contributions relevant to both regional and global media discourse.

Aims

AMRJ aims to:

  • Advance theoretical and empirical research that critically engages with the evolving dynamics of Arab media landscapes.
  • Foster methodological innovation by encouraging mixed-methods designs, computational communication approaches, and culturally adapted research frameworks.
  • Bridge the gap between Arab media scholarship and global communication theory by cultivating cross-cultural and comparative inquiry.
  • Promote evidence-based dialogue among academics, media professionals, and policymakers on issues of media reform, regulation, and digital governance.
  • Provide a platform for emerging scholars alongside established researchers, with particular attention to underrepresented voices within Arab media studies.

Research Areas

The journal welcomes submissions across the following thematic domains (but is not limited to):

  • Digital Journalism and News Ecosystems: Transformation of journalistic practice, newsroom innovation, data journalism, fact-checking, and news credibility in Arab media contexts.
  • Media Governance and Policy Reform: Regulatory frameworks, media law, press freedom, and institutional reform in MENA countries.
  • Audience and Reception Studies: Media consumption patterns, audience fragmentation, participatory culture, and the role of social media platforms in shaping public opinion.
  • Strategic Communication and Public Relations: Corporate communication, crisis communication, nation branding, and public diplomacy in Arab states.
  • Digital Transformation and AI in Media: Algorithmic content curation, artificial intelligence in news production, automation, and the ethical implications of emerging technologies for Arab media.
  • Political Communication and Media Discourse: Election coverage, propaganda analysis, media framing, critical discourse analysis, and the mediatization of politics in the Arab region.
  • Visual Communication and Cultural Production: Film studies, television narratives, advertising, and the semiotics of Arab cultural representation.
  • Health, Environmental, and Science Communication: Media coverage of public health crises, climate change communication, and the dissemination of scientific knowledge in Arab societies.
  • Media Literacy and Information Integrity: Misinformation and disinformation research, media education, digital literacy initiatives, and information disorder in the MENA region.
  • Gender, Identity, and Representation in Media: Portrayals of gender, minority groups, and cultural identity in Arab media production and consumption.
  • Communication Theory and Epistemology: Original theoretical contributions, meta-analyses, and critical reflections on the foundations of communication science as applied to Arab contexts.

Article Types Accepted

  • Empirical Studies: Original quantitative, qualitative, or mixed-methods research with primary or secondary data.
  • Theoretical Contributions: Novel frameworks, models, or critical essays that advance understanding of Arab media phenomena.
  • Case Studies: In-depth, contextually rich analyses of specific media organizations, campaigns, regulatory events, or communication practices.
  • Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses: Comprehensive reviews of existing literature with clearly defined protocols and actionable insights.
  • Policy Papers: Evidence-driven analyses offering recommendations for media policymakers, regulators, and institutional stakeholders.
  • Book Reviews: Critical evaluations of recently published monographs or edited volumes in communication and media studies.

Compliance with Scopus and Clarivate Standards

AMRJ's scope is defined with precision and consistency in accordance with Clarivate's Basic Publishing Standards and Scopus's title evaluation criteria. The journal maintains a clearly delimited subject area, avoids thematic drift, and ensures that all published content aligns with the declared focus. Scope boundaries are reviewed annually by the Editorial Board to maintain relevance and scholarly rigor.