Semarang, (6/3) – The Department of Communication Science, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP), Universitas Diponegoro (UNDIP), through its Media Sociology Research Group (Kelompok Bidang Keahlian/KBK Sosiologi Media), organized a two-day Article Review Session featuring Dr. Micah R. Fisher from the University of Hawai?i at M?noa, United States. Held on June 2–3, 2026, at Antawirya Hall, FISIP UNDIP, the program aimed to strengthen research culture, enhance the quality of scholarly publications, and expand international academic collaboration.
Supported by the UNDIP Equity Program 2026, the initiative was organized by the Media Sociology Research Group, chaired by Dr. Nurul Hasfi, S.Sos., M.A. Carrying the theme “Critical Discussion on Communication Research and Academic Publishing,” the forum provided lecturers and researchers with an opportunity to receive direct feedback from an international scholar on manuscript development, publication strategies, and the broader contribution of research to contemporary social and communication issues.
The event commenced with welcoming remarks from Dr. Agus Naryoso, S.Sos., M.Si., Head of the Department of Communication Science. In his address, he emphasized the importance of creating academic spaces that allow lecturers and students to strengthen their research and publication capacities through direct engagement with international scholars. He also encouraged participants to actively exchange ideas, engage in constructive discussions, and explore opportunities for future academic collaboration.
The program was officially opened by the Dean of FISIP UNDIP, Dr. Drs. Teguh Yuwono, M.Pol.Admin., who highlighted the importance of strengthening research productivity and international publication performance as part of Universitas Diponegoro’s efforts to enhance its global academic reputation.
The forum featured Dr. Micah R. Fisher from the School of Communication and Information, College of Social Sciences, University of Hawai?i at M?noa. His academic expertise includes environmental governance, political ecology, climate adaptation, land-use change, and social development issues across Southeast Asia, particularly Indonesia.
Unlike a conventional academic seminar, participants had submitted their abstracts and manuscript drafts before the event. This allowed Dr. Micah to review the papers in advance, enabling the sessions to focus on substantive discussion, constructive critique, and recommendations for improving both research quality and publication readiness.
During the session titled “Critical Discussion on Communication Research and Academic Publishing,” Dr. Micah shared insights into the challenges and opportunities of academic writing. He noted that writing scholarly articles is often a long and demanding journey that can feel like “a lonely process” for many researchers.
He encouraged participants not to allow their research outputs to become a “graveyard of papers” – manuscripts that remain unfinished or unpublished. Instead, he emphasized the importance of revision, scholarly dialogue, and collaboration in transforming research findings into impactful academic publications.
Dr. Micah also expressed appreciation for the richness and quality of field data often produced by Indonesian researchers. According to him, many studies possess strong potential for publication in international journals because they provide valuable social, cultural, and policy perspectives relevant to global academic discussions.
In addition to discussing academic writing techniques, the review sessions covered theoretical frameworks, research contributions, methodological approaches, scholarly argumentation, and journal selection strategies. During the second day, Dr. Micah further emphasized the importance of novelty, social relevance, and clear scholarly contribution as key elements for successful publication in reputable international journals.
Throughout the two-day event, the discussions were facilitated by lecturers from the Department of Communication Science. Muhammad Rif’at Al-Razi, S.I.Kom., M.I.Kom. served as moderator on the first day, while Herlina Kusumaningrum, S.Sos., M.A. moderated the second-day session. The program combined manuscript presentations, article reviews, and interactive academic discussions between participants and the invited scholar.
Through this Article Review Session, the Department of Communication Science and the Media Sociology Research Group reaffirmed their commitment to fostering a productive, collaborative, and globally engaged academic environment. The presence of Dr. Micah R. Fisher not only provided valuable perspectives on research and publication development but also opened opportunities for future international academic collaboration.
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The program represents one of the Faculty’s and Department’s ongoing efforts to strengthen research quality, increase international publication output, and contribute to Universitas Diponegoro’s vision of becoming a World Class University.
Writer: Muhammad Rif’at Al-Razi