CFP for Special Issue in Journal of Health Communication: From Competencies to Capacity
Dear Colleagues,
I'm writing on behalf of my co-editors and myself to share news of a forthcoming special issue of the Journal of Health Communication that we are co-editing:
From Competencies to Capacity: Preparing the Next Generation of Health Communicators to Address Persistent and Emerging Challenges
This special issue will consolidate and critically examine emerging scholarship and practices on the competencies, pedagogies, and institutional strategies that can strengthen the global and local health communication workforce. We particularly welcome solution-oriented contributions that bridge theory and practice, foreground equity and cultural relevance, and propose scalable approaches to training and capacity building across diverse contexts.
Thematic areas include:
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Operationalizing and implementing core competencies (e.g., stakeholder engagement, data literacy, systems thinking, implementation design)
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Innovative pedagogies and training models (in-person, online, hybrid)
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Equity-informed and culture-centered approaches to training and practice
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Systems-level and cross-sectoral strategies for capacity building
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Community-driven practices that amplify local knowledge and co-create solutions
Submission categories:
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Research Articles (approx. 5,000 words)
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Global Forum Perspectives (1,500–2,000 words, max 5 authors, max 10 references)
Timeline:
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Manuscript submissions due: January 15, 2026
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Peer review: January – March 2026
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Revisions and final decisions: April – May 2026
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Final manuscripts due: June 15, 2026
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Online publication target: September 2026 (rolling peer review for early submissions)
Full details are available here:
With appreciation,
Matthew Matsaganis, Rutgers University
Itzhak Yanovitzky, Rutgers University
Iccha Basnyat, George Mason University
Brian Southwell, RTI International
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Matthew D. Matsaganis, Ph.D. (he/him/his)
Associate Professor
School of Communication & Information
Rutgers University
IAPP-Greece: Advancing Health Communication
Across the Health Professions
Co-Director
https://iapp-greece.rutgers.edu/
Rutgers Global Health Institute
Core Faculty Member
Laboratory for Social Applied Research and Social Work (SoRSoW)
Hellenic Mediterranean University (Greece)
Affiliated Member
Contact Information
>Mailing Address: 4 Huntington Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
>Office: Room 256, Friedrich House/Annex B (15 Huntington Street)
>Tel. +1 848 932 8844 (Office)
>Tel. +1 213 509 8413 (Mobile, in the U.S.),