Special Issue of Journal of Public Relations Research: Reviewing Internal Communication

Author name

The Journal of Public Relations Research invites submissions for a special issue on internal communication. As communication within organizations becomes increasingly important in public relations and the scholarship, it is time to review what is new in internal communication. Increasingly, organizations invest considerable human and financial resources in shaping effective internal communication systems. Rapid digitalization has also had a massive effect on communication within organizations. The COVID-19 pandemic caused a huge shift in how we all communicate and a new level of computer-mediated communication (CMC) dominates our private and working lives, forcing a reimagining of traditional organizational boundaries. Employee perception and statements about the organization often form the basis of external stakeholders view of the organization. That is why, shifts in organizational environment drive a review of how internal communication is practiced and defined, especially from a public relations and strategic communication perspective.


Papers submitted to this issue should aim to elaborate, define, and re-define concepts within internal communication. The issue aims to capture the latest research in the field. Approaches from varied disciplines and methodologies are welcomed. A range of topics are also welcome, including but not limited to the following topics:
• Internal communication and issue/crisis management
• Employees’ perception, attitudes, and behaviors
• Employee engagement
• Employee voice and organizational listening
• Internal communication and employee well-being
• Internal communication, (social) media, and technology
• Leadership communication, including organizational advocacy
• Internal communication and change management
• Internal communication measurement
• Cross-cultural/global internal communications


Manuscript and Technical Requirements
• Content shall further JPRR’s primary purpose, which is to create, test, refine, or expand theory in public relations. Authors should explicitly articulate how their scholarship serves the purpose of the journal.
• Content shall reflect the highest standards of scholarship, regardless of the methods used.
• Manuscripts shall be submitted in APA 7 style and edited to the highest standards of English- language grammar, spelling, punctuation, sentence structure, word usage, etc.
• Manuscripts shall conform to the Journal’s standard limit of 30 pages of text (not including references, figures, tables). Manuscripts that exceed the standard page limit may be considered if the authors (a) justify the manuscript length in their cover letter and (b) keep to a reasonable length appropriate for the nature of the research method and the subject studied.
• Authors shall take care to indicate in the online manuscript submission system that their submission is, in fact, intended for the special issue on Reviewing Internal Communication. Failure to make this indication (in the cover letter AND in the appropriate selection box) will lead to the manuscript being entered into the Journal’s regular review process, rather than the special issue process.


Important Dates
• September, 15, 2023 (Initial manuscript submissions due from authors); February 2024: Publication of special issue.


Questions?

Contact Guest Editor Ana Tkalac Verčič (atkalac@efzg.hr).

CfP for Communication Management Forum 2026 (CMF 2026)

By Maja Jančič • July 22, 2026
In the context of accelerated technological, social and economic changes, communication is affirmed as a key factor in shaping relations in the economy, politics and society. Communication Management Forum 2026 scientific conference, which is held under the title Corporate Communications: Issues & Perspectives, is dedicated to the analysis of precisely these contemporary communication challenges, from corporate and political to ethical and technological.

BledCom 2027: Call for Papers

By Maja Jančič • July 20, 2026
The 34th edition of International Public Relations Research Symposium (BledCom) will be held on JULY 2 & 3, 2027 in Rikli Balance Hotel , Lake Bled - Slovenia (IN-PERSON ONLY) . The main theme of the 34th conference is "THE SOCIAL ROLE FOR PUBLIC RELATIONS IN A TURBULENT WORLD". With each passing year especially in the past decade, it appears as though our world is becoming ever more turbulent. Individuals, organizations, and societies are bribng forced to cope with a world in flux. The very foundation of an established geo-political equilibrium is being severely tested – aided, among other factors, by the increase in illiberal democraticsystems. The world had rejoiced the fall of the Berlin Wall at the end of the 20 th century signaling the end of a bipolar and contentious political order. That elation appears to have been premature as the first quarter of the 21 st century has heralded multipolar geopolitics that has been the source of this turbulence also. The formation of BRIC in 2006 that became BRICS in 2011, the establishment of Quad (Quadrilateral Security Dialogue), the birth of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) are a few examples of countries trying to jockey for global relevance and impact in the 21 st century. Twentieth century problems such as global warming and human migration have not abated, but have become exacerbated, and continue to add to the state of flux. The calmness of an established world order has also been significantly affected by the meteoric rise of digital media and more recently the onset of Artificial Intelligence (AI) that have simultaneously aided, and disrupted, the life of every human being. This current reality offers us the prime opportunity to be reflective and address the social role of public relations as a practice and scholarly discipline. Therefore, BledCom 2027 invites scholars, practitioners, educators and administrators to reflect on the social role for public relations and its relevance in an increasingly turbulent world. SOME RELEVANT QUESTIONS ARE: Does the practice of public relations have a social role beyond that of being the ‘paid piper’ for an organization? Has the discipline contributed to the current turbulence in the world? If so, how? To what extent has the discipline reflected on its own social responsibility while professing to bethe conduit of communication for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)? Does public relations have a role in calming and healing this turbulence? If so, is the discipline even contemplating its role to help calm and heal a turbulent society? Is the discipline equipped to engage in this societal role as healer? Has scholarship adequately addressed the role public relations has played in building just andequitable societies as part of civil society? GUIDELINES FOR SUBMISSION As in previous years, BledCom welcomes all papers related to public relations and strategic communication, not just those addressing the conference theme. Panel proposals are also invited. We invite abstracts between 500 and 800 words (including title, keywords, and references) and panel proposals. Abstracts should include: - Introduction and purpose of the study (including research question if applicable), - Literature review (to situate the work in existing scholarship), - Methodology (including data sources, rationale, and sample), - Results and conclusions (highlighting implications and limitations), - Practical and social implications. Please provide 3–5 keywords that reflect your study. Use APA style (latest edition). Abstracts must be submitted anonymously, with identifying information included on a separate cover page. A list of references is optional but included in the word count. Panel proposals should include: - Title and focus of the panel, - Name of the panel chair, - Names of participants and titles or foci of their contributions. IMPORTANT DATES Submission deadline: Tuesday, February 2, 2027 Notification of acceptance: Tuesday, March 3, 2027 (after peer review) Full papers (up to 6,000 words): due Monday, September 13, 2027, for proceedings. Please send all submissions to: bledcom@fdv.uni-lj.si PROGRAMME COMMITTEE Dejan Verčič, University of Ljubljana and Herman & partnerji, Slovenia Krishnamurthy Sriramesh, University of Colorado Boulder, USA Ana Tkalac Verčič, University of Zagreb, Croatia