Deception in Marketing Communications

Call for Papers
Deception in Marketing Communications
Journal: Journal of Marketing Communications
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
Submission Deadline: 30 June 2026

Overview
This special issue examines deception as a long-standing and evolving challenge in marketing communications. It looks at how misleading messages, covert native advertising, influencer endorsements, greenwashing, deceptive pricing, and AI-driven persuasion can erode trust and increase consumer defensiveness. The issue also highlights how virtual influencers, anthropomorphic agents, chatbots, and online review manipulation create new ethical and strategic concerns.

Detailed Scope
The call invites conceptual, empirical, and methodological work on forms of deception, AI and persuasion, online reviews and electronic word of mouth, B2B deception, and theoretical advances using frameworks such as attribution theory, persuasion knowledge, signaling theory, Interpersonal Deception Theory, and Information Manipulation Theory. It also welcomes research on consumer skepticism, ad literacy, activism, disclosure design, regulatory intervention, and trust repair. The special issue is broad enough to include both human and AI-mediated deception in digital marketing contexts.

Submission Information
The submission window runs from 1 February 2026 to 30 June 2026. Authors should submit through the journal’s official submission site and follow the author instructions and formatting guidelines carefully. Manuscripts must be original and not under consideration elsewhere. Questions about the special issue can be directed to the lead editor, Dr. Maria Petrescu.

Guest Editors

• Maria Petrescu — Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

• Melanie Burleson Richards — East Tennessee State University.

• Georgiana Craciun — Duquesne University.

• Dana Harrison — East Tennessee State University.

• Mihai Orzan — Bucharest University of Economic Studies.

• ServiceSetu Academics — Premier Platform for Academic Opportunities & Research Collaboration

• Visit official website of the publisher