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The Centre for Media and Communication Research and the Department of Communication Studies at the School of Communication, Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU), jointly organised a research dialogue titled “Emerging Trends in Academic Publishing in Communication Research in the Age of Artificial Intelligence” on 22 April 2026. The event brought together two distinguished scholars and journal editors, faculty members, and postgraduate students to explore how AI is transforming the landscape of academic publishing in the field of communication.

The dialogue featured Professor Sung-Un Yang, Harold Burson Endowed Chair, and Department Chair in the Department of Mass Communication, Advertising and Public Relations at Boston University College of Communication, and Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Public Relations Research. Joining him was Professor Bu Zhong, Dean of the School of Communication, HKBU, and Senior Editor of Computers in Human Behavior. The session was moderated by Prof. Keonyoung Park, Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication Studies at HKBU.

Opportunities and Challenges in the AI Era

Structured around three guiding questions, the dialogue firstly invited the speakers to reflect on the major opportunities and challenges brought by AI. Both speakers acknowledged AI’s transformative power in scaling up research capacity, while warning of serious risks. Professor Yang highlighted a growing structural imbalance between methodological sophistication and theoretical depth, cautioning that technical novelty alone is no longer sufficient to define a strong paper. Professor Zhong raised concerns about over-reliance on AI as researchers outsource their intellectual effort, which may diminish their own critical thinking.

Redefining Publishable Scholarship ​

With respect to what constitutes publishable scholarship in the AI era, both editors stressed that conceptual rigor and social impact have become the new benchmarks. Professor Zhong emphasized that research should demonstrate real-world social benefits and the capacity to inform evidence-based decision-making, rather than chasing citation metrics. Professor Yang urged researchers to prioritize conceptual contribution and theoretical framing over methodological complexity, noting that “if production becomes easier, ideas become the currency.”

Preparing for the Future of the Field

Looking to the future, the speakers offered practical guidance for graduate students and early-career scholars. Professor Yang advised researchers to pursue concept-driven inquiry and to engage deeply with foundational communication theories, rethinking established concepts such as authenticity and credibility in the new AI context. Professor Zhong encouraged young scholars to read extensively, seek mentorship proactively, build cross-functional collaborations, and above all, maintain the highest standards of academic integrity.

The event concluded with a Q&A session that touched on AI use in the peer review process, the ethics of AI-assisted screening, and strategies for developing theoretically meaningful AI-related research agendas. Both speakers agreed that AI content should always be treated as a rough draft, never a final product, and that human intellectual engagement remains irreplaceable in producing scholarship of lasting value.