Aims and Scope

The purpose of the journal "Current Issues of Mass Communication" is to publish peer-reviewed research articles containing original scientific results in the specialty 061 "Journalism" of the scientific field "Social Communications" related to the phenomenon of mass communication, as well as materials of a review, theoretical or scientific-methodological nature (reviews of book publications or articles; reviews-presentations of new publications; reviews of dissertation research, etc.).

The objectives of the journal:

- development of domestic scientific potential and its integration into the world scientific space;
- promotion of effective public communication of scientists, high-quality reporting, official recognition and popularization of the results of scientific research on social communications in domestic and world scientific communities;
- to form a new theoretical and literary paradigm of modernity.

Scope of Publications

Our journal has a scholarly profile defined by the general definition of mass communication, an understanding of the components of this concept (its structure), and the areas of concern in analysing mass communication, taking into account the social, political, cultural, professional, technological, scholarly and other contexts in which research is conducted. To this end, authors, reviewers and editors are provided with a concept map of current issues in mass communication. It comprises 01 Conceptual Structure with keywords and 02 Current Issues with keywords, together with guidance on formulating a research topic. The keywords form an open framework, and the areas of concern may overlap and complement one another.

Accordingly, each author should see their research reflected in this concept map, and the keywords accompanying an article should overlap with identical or conceptually similar keywords on the map.

Each reviewer assesses, and each editor improves, an article manuscript using the concept map.

Overview of the Mass Communication Concept Map

1. Mass Communication and Its Conceptual Structure

Mass communication is the process of creating and distributing messages to a broad, diverse audience, including through media and technological platforms, with the aim of forming a psychological unity among people known as the masses.

Component	Keywords
Communicators: who communicates?	journalists, advertising professionals, PR practitioners, political strategists, editorial teams, media organisations, state institutions, businesses, civil society organisations, bloggers, influencers
Messages: what is communicated?	information, news, works, meanings, images, narratives, values, ideologies, advertising
Channels: through which media?	print media, television, radio, online media, social networks, video platforms, podcasts, messaging apps
Audience: to whom?	mass audience, target groups, communities, segmentation, active audience, masses, publics, crowds
Processes: how?	content production, information selection, editing, distribution, consumption, interpretation, feedback
Functions: for what purpose?	informing, explaining, socialisation, education, entertainment, persuasion, mobilisation
Effects: with what consequences?	public opinion, the public agenda, attitudes, behaviour, trust, stereotypes, public sentiment
Context: under what conditions?	societal communication, politics, culture, the economy, technology, law, war, globalisation

2. Current Issues in Mass Communication and Areas of Concern

Area	Keywords
Technological change	digitalisation, artificial intelligence, automation, generative content, deepfakes
Platforms and algorithms	algorithmic selection, recommender systems, content visibility, moderation, platform dependence
Information accuracy	disinformation, false information, fact-checking, verification, manipulation, propaganda
Audience and reception	audience fragmentation, framing, filter bubbles, echo chambers, selective consumption, information overload
Social and political influence	polarisation, public opinion, political communication, social communications, elections, civic participation, mobilisation
War and crises	information warfare, strategic communications, crisis communication, information security, societal resilience
Ethics and professional standards	responsibility, accuracy, balance, independence, hate speech, privacy
Law and regulation	freedom of expression, censorship, copyright, personal data protection, platform accountability
Media economics	ownership, concentration, monetisation, advertising, subscriptions, financial independence
Culture and representation	identity, stereotypes, diversity, inclusion, gender, representation of social groups
Trust and media literacy	trust in the media and their products, critical thinking, media education, digital literacy, recognising manipulation

 To formulate a research topic, these sections can be combined using the following framework:

component of mass communication → current issue → specific context in which the research is conducted

For example:

• messages → accuracy → AI-generated content;
• audience → trust → news on social networks;
• channels → algorithmic selection → political information;
• effects → mobilisation → wartime communication.

Thus, the first section describes the structure and functioning of mass communication, while the second addresses its problems, tensions and directions of change. Context comes from the specific conditions under which the author investigates an issue.

For example, take audience as the component and trust as the issue. Then specify:

• where? ‒ on social networks;
• among whom? ‒ among university students;
• under what circumstances? ‒ during wartime.

This produces, for example, the topic: “University Students’ Trust in News on Social Networks During Wartime.”

Context can be defined through a platform, a group of people, a geographical area, a period or a social situation. It is selected according to the research aim and the material available for analysis.

The journal is intended for researchers of mass communication in its various aspects, teachers of mass communication disciplines, students studying journalism, media, and various types of social communication.

Also read about the subject, purpose, tasks, sections and types of publications here.