Aim and Scope
MAST : The Journal of Media Art Study and Theory, is an online, diamond open-access, double-blind peer-reviewed journal dedicated to interdisciplinary scholarship in media studies. The journal bridges theory and practice by publishing work by scholars, artists, and artist-researchers working at the intersection of art, science, technology, and media theory. MAST supports diverse forms of research and publication, including traditional scholarly articles, practice-led and practice-based research, video essays, interviews, book reviews, and special issues engaging media, art, and technology. The journal is published digitally twice a year, in spring and fall.

Sponsors
NeMLA / Gannon University, 2023—present
NeMLA / University at Buffalo, 2019—2023)

MAST accepts:full papers (5000 - 6000 words)
practice-based studies (1000-2000 words)
videoessays

MAST is interested in the themes below:Media Archaeology
Analog and Digital Media
Archives and Archival Art Practices
Aesthetics of Error, Glitch and Noise in Media Arts
Haptic, Tactile and Interactive Media Arts
Locative and Mobile Media Arts
Media and Embodiment

Peer Review Process

MAST follows a rigorous double-blind peer review process to ensure the quality, relevance, and integrity of published work.

• Initial Review
  All submissions are first reviewed by the journal editors to determine whether they fit the journal’s scope and meet basic submission requirements, including formatting, clarity, and relevance. Submissions that do not meet these standards may be desk-rejected or returned to authors with feedback and an invitation to revise and resubmit.

• Reviewer Selection
  Each scholarly submission is typically reviewed by at least two reviewers: one internal reviewer and one external reviewer. Internal reviewers are selected from the MAST editorial team and/or advisory board. External reviewers are selected by the journal editors based on their expertise and the relevance of their work to the submission. For special issues, external reviewers may also be identified in conversation with guest editors and advisory board members when appropriate.

  All reviewers are contacted by the journal editors, who oversee the review process to ensure alignment with MAST’s peer review standards and to help identify and avoid potential conflicts of interest.

• Review Process and Decision-Making
  Reviewer reports are assessed by the journal editors and, for special issues, in consultation with guest editors. Decisions to accept, request revisions, or reject a submission are based on the quality of the work, reviewer feedback, relevance to the journal’s scope, and, where applicable, the special issue theme.

  Guest editors may provide recommendations based on the reviews, but final editorial decisions are confirmed by the journal editors. Advisory board members may support the peer review process by serving as internal reviewers, advising on reviewer selection, or offering editorial input when needed.

• Revised Manuscripts
  Revised manuscripts are evaluated by the journal editors and, when relevant, guest editors. Major revisions may be returned to the original reviewers for re-evaluation. Minor revisions are assessed by the editors to confirm that reviewer feedback has been adequately addressed.

• Communication with Authors
  All formal decisions and reviewer feedback are communicated to authors by the journal editors through the official editorial email address, including for special issues involving guest editors. This ensures consistency, transparency, and proper record-keeping throughout the review process.

Open AccessMAST is a diamond open-access journal and provides free access to the full texts of all its contents immediately upon publication. No fees are charged to either readers or authors. MAST is a member of Radical Open Access Collective.

CopyrightAuthors retain the copyright and full publishing rights without restrictions. Authors may reuse/republish their article as part of a book or other materials, providing acknowledgment is given to MAST as the original source and place of publication. Authors can post a copy of their accepted/published article on their websites and on their Institutional repository, citing that the article was originally published in MAST.

LicensingAll MAST’s published articles are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).

RepositoryWe recognize the value of open access and the benefits of making research widely available. By providing authors with the flexibility to deposit their work in repositories, we support their efforts to maximize the visibility, accessibility, and impact of their research outputs. This policy reflects our commitment to fostering open scholarship and facilitating the dissemination of knowledge to a broader audience.

Indexing
MAST is indexed by CrossRef, with all published content assigned a DOI to ensure immediate accessibility and citation tracking upon publication. The journal is also indexed in the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ).

Open CitationAs a member of Crossref, MAST deposits reference lists for all published articles. These references are made publicly available through Crossref’s Cited-by service and are included in the Initiative for Open Citations (I4OC), allowing unrestricted access to our citation metadata. This promotes transparency, discoverability, and greater integration within the open scholarly ecosystem.

Digital Archiving Policy
MAST is committed to the long-term preservation of its content. All articles published by the journal are preserved on mast-nemla.org. In addition, the journal encourages authors to archive the published version of their articles on their institutional repositories and as well as other appropriate websites.

Editorial Ethics and Integrity
MAST adheres to the principles outlined by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and is committed to upholding the highest standards of editorial integrity. While not formally a member of COPE, we follow its Core Practices in areas such as transparency, peer review, authorship, conflicts of interest, and handling of research misconduct. Our editorial process is guided by fairness, accountability, and respect for scholarly integrity.

Ethical Oversight
Authors are responsible for ensuring that their research complies with relevant ethical standards, including those related to human participants, interviews, images, community-based research, and the use of personal or sensitive materials. Where institutional review board approval, ethics approval, consent, or permissions are required, authors must obtain them before submission and disclose them as appropriate. For practice-based and artist-led research, authors are expected to respect the rights, consent, privacy, and dignity of participants, collaborators, and communities represented in the work.

Artificial Intelligence Use
Authors must disclose any use of generative AI tools in the preparation of submitted work, including uses related to writing, editing, image generation, translation, data analysis, or other research processes. AI tools may not be listed as authors, as authorship requires accountability for the integrity, originality, and accuracy of the work. Authors remain fully responsible for all submitted content, including any material generated or assisted by AI tools.

Corrections, Retractions, and Expressions of Concern
MAST is committed to maintaining the integrity of the scholarly record. If a significant error or ethical concern is identified after publication, the editors will review the matter carefully and determine whether any action is necessary. Minor typographical or formatting errors that do not affect the meaning of the work may not require post-publication correction. Decisions about whether to issue a correction, update, expression of concern, or retraction are made by the journal editors, based on the nature and seriousness of the issue, the available evidence, and the integrity of the published record. When appropriate, MAST may follow COPE guidance in considering post-publication actions. Any post-publication changes will be handled transparently and with respect for authors, readers, and the journal’s editorial independence.

Complaints
Authors, reviewers, and readers may submit complaints or appeals regarding editorial decisions, peer review procedures, publication ethics, or published content by contacting the editors at editors@mast-journal.org. Appeals should include a clear explanation of the concern and any relevant supporting materials. The editors will review complaints in good faith and, when appropriate, consult guest editors, advisory board members, or external experts. Editorial decisions may be reconsidered when there is evidence of procedural error, conflict of interest, or substantive misunderstanding.