Texas Speech Communication Journal
Volume 51
Call for Manuscripts
The Texas Speech Communication Journal (TSCJ) issues a call for papers that focus on research in human communication. Contributors may approach topics from multiple perspectives, contexts, and methodologies supported within the discipline. Manuscripts that emphasize discovery, legibility, comity, or topics of special relevance to Texas are encouraged.
Submissions should be received no later than December 20, 2026. TSCJ follows a policy of blind review so no author identification should appear in the abstract and body of the manuscript.
For volume 51, TSCJ welcomes three types of submissions for consideration:
Original Scholarship
Manuscripts should not exceed 9,000 words, including references and figures, and should be written according to the most recent edition of either the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association or Chicago Manual of Style. All submissions should be divided into the following two (Microsoft Word) documents:
1. Title Page should include: author's name(s), academic position(s), institutional affiliation(s), mailing address(es), email(s), author bio(s) - under 50 words each, method/approach (e.g. rhetorical criticism/theory, qualitative/quantitative methods, content/multimodal analysis, ethnography or field methods, etc.), 2-5 keywords, and brief history of the manuscript (any conferences, campus, or other presentations, etc.).
2. Anonymized Abstract and Manuscript - An abstract of no more than 150 words and 2-5 keywords should accompany the manuscript. No author identification should appear in this file. Incomplete manuscripts will be desk rejected. Include all tables, graphs, and appendices.
Book Reviews
Texas Speech Communication Journal invites book reviews of academic monographs and edited volumes in the field of Communication Studies. Quality reviews should do the following:
Quickly and creatively convey the content, claims, and significance of the book.
Mention the author(s) and how the book fits into their larger body of work.
Provide a summary of the book's structure and organization.
Highlight the book's major themes and scholarly interventions.
Include careful criticism of ways in which the book might have been stronger in the reviewer's assessment.
Book review submissions should be no more than 1,600 words in length and conform to Chicago Style guidelines. The journal is willing to coordinate with prospective reviewers to assist in securing a review copy of the book furnished by the academic publisher. Prospective reviewers are welcome to email the TSCJ editor to pitch potential books to review prior to submission.
Forum: Lone Star Elections 2026
TSCJ requests submissions for a special forum of short entries addressing the communication dimensions of the 2026 midterm elections in Texas. Given the salience of the 2026 midterm election cycle in Texas, including U.S. House redistricting, new candidates and retirements, the party primary defeat of multiple incumbent members of Congress, and numerous marquee races heading into November, a special forum on communication in Lone Star elections is warranted. Interested contributors should submit a 500-word abstract of their idea via the TSCJ submission portal online and are welcome to direct any inquiries to Dr. Randall Fowler (rpf23a@acu.edu), TSCJ editor, and Dr. Gil Carter (tgc133@msstate.edu), guest editor for this forum.
The Texas Speech Communication Journal (TSCJ) is a state journal published by the Texas Speech Communication Association. TSCJ normally publishes one print issue annually. The journal has a 24% acceptance rate.
All submissions should be via the TSCJ website: https://www.etsca.com/journal.asp (this page).
Acceptance/Rejection notices: Sent mid to late spring 2027.
Queries should be sent via email to:
TSCJ Editor, Dr. Randall Fowler
Abilene Christian University
email: tscjeditor@etsca.com or rpf23a@acu.edu
Deadline: December 20, 2026
Current issues of the Texas Speech Communication Journal are available for purchase. Cost is $50.00 per issue for non-members and $25.00 per issue for members. Members may purchase their journal when registering for yearly convention.
Contact Journal Editor Amanda Jo Ratcliff to order copies. In your email request, include date, quantity desired, name, and mailing address to which journals are to be sent.
Send payment (checks should be made payable to the Texas Speech Communication Association) to:
TSCA Executive Secretary
5600 Bell Street, Suite 105 # 278
Amarillo, TX 79109
tscjeditor@etsca.com
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6/1/26 Plans are now underway for our next convention to be held October 8-10, 2026 in Rockwall. Click here for more details, or click here to join or renew your TSCA membership. |
Communicating for Collaboration: Collaborating for Change Date:October 8-10, 2026 |
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