The Future of Internal Communication: Voices, Technologies, and Sense of Belonging at Work

📢 CALL FOR PAPERS

The Future of Internal Communication: Voices, Technologies, and Sense of Belonging at Work

Journal: Corporate Communications: An International Journal

Publisher: Emerald Publishing

Submission Opens: 1 December 2025

Submission Deadline: 1 June 2026

Introduction

The emergence of AI-mediated channels and remote/hybrid working — as well as the increasing need for voice and inclusion in the workspace — have changed internal communications dramatically. AI chatbots, virtual assistants, and AI-powered collaboration platforms have made it possible for employees to communicate more quickly and individually. These digital technologies are used by responsible managers to improve teamwork, employee performance, and well-being.

At the same time, previous research has highlighted the importance of developing effective internal communications practices in enhancing voice and inclusion in the workspace. Scholars have identified significant challenges in using AI and other digital tools to facilitate effective and ethical internal communications — as well as the urgent need to ensure that employees feel heard, valued, and engaged in organizational dialogue.

Internal communication quality improves employees' trust, well-being, and sense of belonging — especially during periods of crisis. This Special Issue aims to answer the call for research that explores the intersection of voice, technology, and sense of belonging — a surprisingly understudied area despite its growing significance for companies and organizations worldwide.

Scope & Significance

This Special Issue contributes to the existing literature by providing insights on how to improve the use of technology in internal communications to create a sense of belonging and enhance voice and inclusion. It also provides evidence on how ethical implementation of AI and other digital technologies can improve internal communications.

So far, very few studies have examined how digital transformation, AI tools, and hybrid work alter the emotional and relational fabric of organizational life. Earlier research focused extensively on employee engagement or internal communication effectiveness — but only a few studies have examined how internal communications can reshape an organization by acting as a purposeful, human-centred system that mediates trust, inclusion, and identity in technologically sophisticated workplaces.

UN SDG Alignment

❤️ SDG 3 — Good Health & Well-Being — identifying internal communications practices that improve organisational culture and employee well-being

🏭 SDG 8 — Decent Work & Economic Growth — promoting fair and ethical internal communications

⚖️ SDG 10 — Reduced Inequalities — facilitating inclusive and ethical internal communications

List of Topic Areas

Manuscripts are invited on themes including, but not limited to:

How technology can enhance organizational mechanisms of upward and downward communication, feedback, and expression of new ideas
Research on the intersection of employee trust, belonging, and inclusion
Internal communication and psychological safety in hybrid and online teams
Effect of internal communication on employee well-being
How internal communications can facilitate improvement of psychological aspects of employees' work life — including fairness, trust, sense of belonging, and inclusion
The role of AI and digital tools in managing employee relationships
The role of AI and other digital tools in ethical performance management
Empirical evidence on how AI and digital tools enhance employee well-being in hybrid and remote teams
New methodologies for studying internal communication
Ethical challenges of AI-mediated internal communications
Voice and inclusion in digitally transformed workplaces
Identity, trust, and belonging in technologically sophisticated organizations

Guest Editors

Dr. Ioannis Kostopoulos 📧 (contact via journal submission platform)

Dr. Solon Magrizos 📧 (contact via journal submission platform)

Key Deadlines

📅 Manuscript Submission Opens: 1 December 2025 ⏰ Manuscript Submission Deadline: 1 June 2026

Methodological Approaches Welcome

The editors welcome papers from all scientific fields and all methodological backgrounds including:

✅ Conceptual contributions
✅ Systematic and literature reviews
✅ Qualitative research
✅ Quantitative research
✅ Mixed methods

Submission Guidelines

Submissions are made through ScholarOne Manuscripts, the official submission platform of Emerald Publishing. Authors must strictly follow the journal's author guidelines.

When submitting, select "The Future of Internal Communication: Voices, Technologies, and Sense of Belonging at Work" from the special issue drop-down menu at the appropriate step in the submission process.

⚠️ Submitted articles must not have been previously published, nor should they be under consideration for publication elsewhere while under review for this journal.

🌐 Submission Portal: https://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/ccij

🌐 Author Guidelines: https://www.emeraldgrouppublishing.com/journal/ccij#jlp_author_guidelines

About the Journal

Corporate Communications: An International Journal (CCIJ), published by Emerald Publishing, is a leading peer-reviewed journal dedicated to advancing research and practice in corporate and organizational communication. It provides an international platform for scholars and practitioners exploring internal and external communication strategies, stakeholder engagement, media relations, and the role of communication in shaping organizational identity, culture, and performance.

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