NUS Prof Zhang Weiyu appointed incoming editor of top communication journal

Professor Zhang Weiyu from the Department of Communications and New Media at the NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS) was appointed Co-Chief Editor of the Journal of Communication (JOC) – a leading, internationally renowned academic journal published by Oxford University Press.

Established in 1951, JOC is the flagship journal of the International Communication Association based in Washington D.C., and is widely regarded as an essential journal for communication specialists and policymakers alike. The journal publishes leading scholarship across all aspects of communication, spanning communication research, practice, policy and theory. Prof Zhang is among a select group of five scholars to lead the publication as incoming chief editors. Her four-year term begins with a transition period in September 2026, with full editorial responsibility commencing in January 2027.

Prof Zhang said, “I am deeply honoured to take on this role as incoming editor of the Journal of Communication, one of the most respected journals in our field. I look forward to working alongside my fellow co-editors to support and elevate outstanding communication scholarship from around the world, and I’m excited where this new chapter takes us.”

Beyond this appointment, Prof Zhang is NUS Provost’s Chair Professor and Director of the Civic Tech Lab at FASS. Her research focuses on civic engagement and Information and Communication Technologies, with a particular focus on Asia. She has led multi-nation projects on youth engagement and civic tech across the region, and is currently exploring how civic tech applications can facilitate citizen engagement on science topics such as artificial intelligence, Covid-19 vaccines, climate change and novel food.