Jurnal Cahaya Mandalika stipulates that authorship must reflect a genuine intellectual contribution and responsibility for the published work. This policy applies to research articles, literature reviews, and conceptual articles.

Authorship Requirements
Every individual listed as an author must meet all of the following criteria:
1. Make a substantive contribution to the formulation of ideas or research design, or to the collection, analysis, or interpretation of data. In review and conceptual articles, contributions may include the development of a conceptual framework, the selection and synthesis of literature, or the construction of a scientific argument.
2. Draft the manuscript or critically revise it to strengthen its intellectual substance.
3. Approve the final version of the manuscript for publication.
4. Be willing to take responsibility for all aspects of the work, including ensuring that any issues regarding the accuracy or integrity of any part are properly investigated and resolved.
All individuals who meet these four criteria must be listed as authors. Contributors who have made substantive contributions must have the opportunity to participate in the drafting or revision of the manuscript and the approval of the final version.

Non-Author Contributors
The provision of funding, a formal position, general supervision, administrative assistance, language editing, or technical assistance alone is not sufficient to qualify for authorship. Contributors who do not meet all authorship criteria may be listed in the Acknowledgments section, with a description of their contributions and their consent.
The status of an academic advisor, institutional head, or research team member does not automatically confer authorship. Authorship for articles derived from undergraduate theses, master’s theses, or doctoral dissertations must be determined based on each individual’s actual contributions.

Order of Authors and Corresponding Author
The order of authors’ names must be agreed upon by all authors prior to manuscript submission, based on contributions and mutual agreement.
The corresponding author is responsible for:
1. Managing communication with the editor during submission, review, and publication.
2. Ensuring that all authors meet the authorship criteria and approve the manuscript, author order, and statement of contributions.
3. Ensuring the completeness of author information, affiliations, and documents requested by the journal.
4. Coordinating responses to inquiries regarding the article after publication.
The designation of a corresponding author does not diminish the responsibilities of the other authors.

Changes to Authorship
Any addition, removal, or change in the order of authors after manuscript submission must be communicated to the editor with a clear rationale and the written consent of all authors, including those being added or removed.
The editor will evaluate the request before approving any changes. Changes made after publication, if approved, must be documented through an official correction.

Prohibited Authorship Practices
JCM does not permit:
1. Gift or honorary authorship: listing an individual as an author out of respect, personal connection, or position without meeting the criteria for authorship.
2. Guest authorship: the inclusion of an individual to enhance reputation or publication opportunities without a contribution that meets the criteria.
3. Ghost authorship: the omission of an individual who meets the authorship criteria from the list of authors.
Artificial intelligence tools, including generative AI, cannot be listed as authors because they cannot provide consent or assume responsibility for the work. Their use in manuscript preparation or the research process must be transparently disclosed in the relevant sections. Authors remain responsible for the accuracy, originality, and integrity of the entire manuscript.

Authorship Disputes
Authorship disputes must be resolved by the authors and, if necessary, the relevant institutions. Editors do not determine individual contributions in such disputes, but may request clarification and supporting evidence and may suspend the editorial process until the matter is resolved.
The handling of alleged authorship violations follows the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).