INTERACTION: SOCIOLOGY OF COMMUNICATION JOURNAL

Author Fee & Article Processing Charge (APC) Policy

Last Updated: February 2026 | Version: 2.0

UPDATED FEE POLICY (Version 2.0)

Effective from the latest issue, Interaction now applies an Article Processing Charge (APC) of:

IDR 350,000 (approximately USD $25)

Fee waivers are available for authors from developing countries. Please see Section 3 for details.

1. Policy Statement

Interaction: Sociology of Communication Journal is committed to maintaining the highest academic standards and providing open access to all published articles. To support operational sustainability and service quality, the journal now charges an affordable Article Processing Charge (APC).

2. Fee Structure

2A. Services Provided FREE of Charge

Status	Service	Description
✅ FREE	Submission Fee	No charge for submitting manuscripts
✅ FREE	Manuscript Processing	No charge for processing and evaluation
✅ FREE	Peer Review	No charge for the double-blind peer review process
✅ FREE	Editorial Assessment	No charge for evaluation by the Editorial Board
✅ FREE	Copyediting & Proofreading	Included as a standard service
✅ FREE	Layout & Formatting	Included as a standard service
✅ FREE	DOI Assignment	DOIs are automatically assigned to all accepted articles
✅ FREE	Online Hosting	No charge for hosting articles online
✅ FREE	Digital Archiving	No charge for long-term digital preservation
✅ FREE	Indexing	No charge for indexing in academic databases

2B. Article Processing Charge (APC) — NEW

Article Processing Charge (APC)

IDR 350,000 / article

(approximately USD $25)

This fee covers:

• Permanent open access publication

• Immediate publication upon acceptance

• Unlimited access for readers worldwide

• All standard services (DOI, hosting, indexing, etc.)

Important: The APC is only charged after the manuscript is formally accepted for publication. There are no charges at the submission stage or during the peer review process.

2C. Optional Services (Not Mandatory)

The following costs are NOT mandatory and only apply if authors choose additional services:

Optional Service	Cost	Notes
Professional Translation	Third-party cost	If authors require translation to/from other languages
Extensive Language Editing	Third-party cost	If manuscripts require very extensive external proofreading
Custom Illustrations/Infographics	Third-party cost	If authors want professional illustrations by designers
Color Printing (Print Edition)	TBD if applicable	Only if the journal publishes a print edition in the future

3. Waiver Policy

Interaction is committed to equitable access. Authors from developing countries or with financial constraints may apply for an APC waiver.

3A. Waiver Eligibility Criteria

Category	Available Waiver
Authors from low-income countries (per World Bank classification)	Full waiver (100%) — Free of charge
Authors from lower-middle-income countries	Partial waiver 50% — APC: IDR 175,000 (~$12)
Graduate students (Master’s/PhD) without funding sources	Partial waiver 50% — APC: IDR 175,000 (~$12)
Independent researchers without institutional affiliation	Considered on a case-by-case basis

3B. How to Apply for a Waiver

Include your waiver request in the cover letter at the time of submission.
Attach supporting documentation (student ID card / institutional letter).
Waiver requests will be reviewed alongside the manuscript review process.
Waiver decisions are independent from manuscript acceptance decisions.

4. Open Access Commitment

Despite now applying an APC, Interaction remains fully committed to open access principles:

Free Access for All: All articles can be freely accessed by anyone, anywhere, at any time.
No Paywall: No payment walls or access restrictions for readers.
Unlimited Downloads: Readers can download articles without registration or fees.
Immediate Open Access: Articles are openly available immediately upon publication, with no embargo period.

License: All articles are published under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).

5. Comparison with Other Journals

Aspect	Interaction	Paid OA Journal (Typical)	Subscription Journal
Submission Fee	✅ FREE	$0 – $500	$0 – $200
APC	✅ IDR 350,000 (~$25)	$500 – $5,000	N/A (readers pay)
Reader Access	✅ Open / Free	✅ Open / Free	❌ Paid / Subscription
Copyright Retention	✅ Authors	Varies	❌ Transfers to Publisher
Open Access License	✅ CC BY 4.0	CC BY 4.0	❌ Limited
Developing Country Waiver	✅ Available	Rarely	Not applicable
Publication Speed	✅ ~3 months	Varies	Varies
Peer Review	✅ Double-Blind	Varies	Varies

6. Copyright and Rights Retention

Authors retain copyright to their work. By submitting an article to Interaction, authors grant a non-exclusive license to the journal to publish and distribute the article.

Rights Retained by Authors:

Post preprint versions in repositories or personal websites
Post published versions in institutional repositories
Share articles with colleagues and students
Use articles for educational purposes
Include articles in theses or dissertations
Reuse material in future publications with proper citation

7. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is the total cost to publish in Interaction?

An APC of IDR 350,000 (~USD $25) is charged after manuscript acceptance. There are no other fees — submission, review, DOI, hosting, and indexing are all free.

Q2: When is the APC due?

The APC is only invoiced after the manuscript is formally accepted. Authors pay nothing at the submission stage or during the peer review process.

Q3: Are fee waivers available for the APC?

Yes. Authors from low-income countries receive a full waiver (100% free). Authors from lower-middle-income countries or graduate students without funding receive a 50% waiver (IDR 175,000). Please see Section 3 for full details.

Q4: Will my article be freely accessible to readers?

Yes. All articles are published under a fully open-access model. Anyone can access, read, and download your article for free without registration or subscription.

Q5: Is there a fee if my manuscript is rejected?

No. There are no fees at submission or resubmission, regardless of the review outcome. The APC is only charged upon acceptance.

Q6: Does the low APC mean lower review quality?

No. We maintain the same rigorous review standards as high-fee journals. All manuscripts undergo double-blind peer review by qualified field experts.

Q7: Who owns the copyright to published articles?

Authors retain copyright. The journal only receives a non-exclusive license to publish and distribute the article.

Q8: Are there extra charges for color images or graphics?

No. All visual elements, including color images and graphics, are published at no additional cost.

Q9: Will the APC policy change in the future?

Any future changes will be announced at least 12 months in advance and will only apply to new submissions after the specified date.

Q10: Do I need a grant or funding to publish in Interaction?

Not necessarily. The APC of IDR 350,000 is designed to be affordable. If you face financial difficulties, waiver options are available. If you have grant funding, we encourage you to acknowledge it in your article.

Q11: Is Interaction a predatory journal?

No. Interaction is a legitimate open-access journal that adheres to COPE and DOAJ standards. We conduct rigorous peer review, maintain high editorial standards, and apply a very affordable APC compared to industry averages.

Q12: Is there a difference in treatment between authors from different countries?

No difference in editorial treatment. Authors from developing countries may qualify for APC waivers, but the editorial and review process is identical for all submissions.

8. Our Commitment

• ✅ Affordable Access: Our low APC ensures that financial capacity is not a primary barrier for quality researchers.

• ✅ Full Transparency: We maintain complete transparency about all fees — no hidden charges at any stage.

• ✅ High Quality Standards: We uphold the highest academic standards without compromise.

• ✅ Equitable Access: Our waiver program ensures researchers from developing countries can still publish their work.

• ✅ Long-term Sustainability: The affordable APC helps build a sustainable model for the journal’s long-term mission.

• ✅ Broad Dissemination: We facilitate the widest possible dissemination of scientific knowledge through full open access.

• ✅ Scientific Community Support: We support researchers at all career stages and from all backgrounds.

9. Compliance with International Standards

Our fee policy complies with the following international standards:

DOAJ Standards: The Directory of Open Access Journals recognizes and supports transparent fee models.
COPE Guidelines: The Committee on Publication Ethics supports open access and equity in publishing.
Budapest Open Access Initiative: Supports full open access without financial barriers for readers.
Berlin Declaration: Supports free and open dissemination of knowledge.

10. Contact for Fee Policy Inquiries

Email	editorial@interaction.id
Subject Line	Author Fees Policy Inquiry
Office Hours	Monday – Friday, 09:00 – 17:00 WIB (GMT+7)
Response Time	Within 3–5 business days