Skip to main content
OJS for Everyone Logo
OJS for EveryoneThe Practical GuidebookRSYN Research LLP

Announcements

Announcements allow Journal Managers to publish news and notices directly on the journal's website — calls for papers, editorial board changes, conference news, award announcements, or any other time-sensitive information.

Enabling Announcements​

Announcements must be enabled before they can be created:

  1. Go to Settings → Website → Setup.
  2. Scroll to the Announcements section.
  3. Check "Enable announcements".
  4. Add an optional Introduction text that appears above the announcements listing (e.g., "News and updates from the editorial team").
  5. Set Announcements per page (how many appear on the listing page).
  6. Save.

Creating an Announcement​

  1. Go to Announcements in the left navigation (it appears after enabling).
  2. Click Add Announcement.
  3. Fill in the form:
FieldNotes
TitleShort, descriptive headline
Summary (Short Description)1–2 sentences shown on the listing page
Description (Full Text)Full announcement body — supports rich text (bold, links, lists)
Announcement TypeOptional — categorise as News, Calls for Papers, etc.
Date PublishedThe date the announcement goes live
Date ExpiredOptional — the announcement is removed from the listing after this date
Send Email NotificationCheck to email all registered readers
  1. Click Save.

The announcement appears on the journal's Announcements page immediately (or on the published date if set in the future).

Announcement Types​

For journals with multiple announcement categories, create Announcement Types to organise them:

  1. Go to Settings → Website → Setup → Announcements.
  2. Under Announcement Types, click Add a Type.
  3. Name the type (e.g., "Call for Papers", "Journal News", "Reviewer Recruitment").
  4. Save.

Authors and readers can filter the announcements listing by type.

Editing an Announcement​

  1. Go to the Announcements page in your journal management area.
  2. Click the action arrow (▶) next to the announcement.
  3. Select Edit.
  4. Make changes and save.

Deleting an Announcement​

  1. Go to Announcements.
  2. Click the action arrow next to the announcement.
  3. Select Delete and confirm.
info

Deleted announcements are permanently removed — there is no recycle bin. If you want to temporarily hide an announcement, set an Expiry Date in the past rather than deleting it.

Best Practices for Announcements​

Call for Papers​

Include:

  • Journal name and section scope.
  • Submission deadline.
  • Expected publication date.
  • Link to submission guidelines.
  • Contact email for questions.

Editorial Board Updates​

Include:

  • Welcome message for new members.
  • Acknowledgement and thanks for departing members.
  • Updated board list or link to the About → Editorial Team page.

Award or Publication Milestones​

  • Keep the tone professional and brief.
  • Link to the relevant article or award page where appropriate.

Email Notifications for Announcements​

If you check "Send Email Notification" when creating an announcement, OJS emails all users registered as Readers on your journal. This is a powerful tool but use it sparingly — over-notification causes recipients to unsubscribe from journal emails entirely.

Reserve email announcements for:

  • Calls for papers
  • Special issue announcements
  • Major journal news (new editor, indexed in new database)

For routine updates, publish the announcement without email notification.

Announcements in the Journal Navigation​

Ensure your journal's navigation menu includes a link to the Announcements page:

  1. Go to Settings → Website → Navigation Menus.
  2. Edit the Primary Navigation menu.
  3. Add Announcements as a menu item if it is not already present.
  4. Save.

Further Reading​