Public Relations Journal

Aims and Scope
The Public Relations Journal will publish original research articles, commentaries, research-in-briefs, case studies, and is open to a variety of formats. The goal of Public Relations Journal is to rapidly share results of important research findings that explore the science beneath the art of public relations™ and are applicable to public relations practice.

Editorial Scope
Public Relations Journal is a free, web-based, open-access, double-blind peer-review quarterly academic journal presented by the Public Relations Society of America and the Institute for Public Relations dedicated to offering the latest public relations and communication-based research. This includes the online “publishing” of articles by academics or practitioners who examine public relations in depth and/or create, test or expand public relations theory. We accept all appropriate methodologies including social-scientific, case studies, philosophical, legal/historical and critical. All submissions should be focused on “research that matters to the profession,” and should include a section that outlines that both in the paper and executive summary. Implications for the discipline are required. The Journal provides vital insights that professionals can incorporate into daily practice, and if of interest, explore rich academic studies and resources for a fuller perspective.

Editorial Board
The Editorial Board members serves two-year terms with an opportunity for renewal with no limits. Editorial Board members will be sought for their area of their expertise. Editorial Board members will review a minimum of two papers per year to determine whether the manuscript fits the purpose of the Journal, applies an appropriate methodology, and thoroughly and appropriately explains the research findings. Additionally, reviewers will offer specific suggestions and feedback, communicating in a professional manner. The annual review and renewal period will involve removing some individuals, inviting others, and renewing existing members for another term.
PR Journal Rubric

Ethical Publishing Practices
The PR Journal is committed to ethical publishing practices through transparency. The PR Journal will not engage in predatory publishing practices or editorial instructions leading to excessive, inauthentic journal self-citation or any other fraudulent practices.

The PR Journal does not charge any fees for article submission or processing.

The Public Relations Journal is a free, web-based, open-access, quarterly academic journal presented by the Public Relations Society of America and the Institute for Public Relations dedicated to offering the latest public relations and communication-based research. Users have the right to read, download, copy, distribute, print, search, or link to the full texts of its articles, or use them for any other lawful purpose.

Creative Commons: CC BY-NC
This license enables reusers to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the material in any medium or format for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator.

Copyright:
Copyright law prohibits a manuscript from appearing in more than one copyrighted publication. Allowing an article to be published in the Public Relations Journal guarantees that it has not been nor will be published in any other copyrighted publication. Authors are responsible for obtaining permission to use any copyrighted material in their manuscripts. The costs associated with artwork, graphs and other materials not provided by the author will be billed to the author. Copyright of all journal manuscripts is held by Public Relations Journal.

History
In 1945, the Public Relations Journal (PRJ) was founded by Rex Harlow, the founder of the Public Relations Society of America. In 1947, PRJ became a monthly publication of PRSA until 1995 when it was superseded by PR Tactics and Strategist. During these 50 years, PRJ was not an academic research journal as it is today, but did feature secondary research in short articles. In 2007, PRJ was relaunched as a peer-reviewed, academic research journal.

From 2007 to 2014, Dr. Donald K. Wright, APR, of Boston University, served as the Editor-in-Chief of PRJ, and then the editor and founder of the Research Journal of IPR from 2014 to early 2017. Dr. Robert Wakefield, APR, of Brigham Young University, served as the editor of PRJ from Fall 2014 through Spring 2017.

In June 2017, IPR combined its “Research Journal of IPR” with the PRSA “PR Journal.” Dr. Hilary Fussell Sisco, APR, of Quinnipiac University was elected the editor-in-chief of PRJ in 2017. Since then, PRJ has consistently published issues featuring the best academic research dedicated to informing and improving the public relations industry.

Archives for the Research Journal of IPR from 2014 to 2017 are here. The archive for the PR Journal from 2007 to the present, can be found here. All other archives are available through academic libraries.

ISSN 1942-4604