Journal of Media Discourse and Society (MDS)

Department of Mass Communication, Virtual University of Pakistan

Contact Us

Editor, Media Discourse and Society
Department of Mass Communication, Virtual University of Pakistan
Sir Syed Memorial Society Building, 19-Attaturk Avenue, G-5/1, Islamabad
Email: mds.journal@vu.edu.pk
Website: https://journal.vu.edu.pk/MDS

Introduction

The Journal of Media Discourse and Society (MDS) is a peer-reviewed academic journal dedicated to advancing critical and interdisciplinary research in the fields of media studies, communication, journalism, digital culture, and societal transformation. In an age where media is reshaping public discourse, identity, politics, and social behavior, MDS provides a platform for scholars, practitioners, and researchers to explore the complex interplay between media narratives and the societies they inform and influence.

We welcome original theoretical and empirical contributions that interrogate the role of traditional and digital media in shaping ideologies, public opinion, policy, and everyday life. The journal also encourages innovative approaches to media discourse analysis, including studies rooted in sociology, political science, cultural studies, linguistics, and communication theory.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Journal of Media Discourse and Society is to:

• Promote high-quality, peer-reviewed research that explores the dynamic relationship between media and society.

• Foster critical scholarship on media discourse, journalism practices, digital communication, and public engagement.

• Encourage interdisciplinary dialogue and global perspectives on the media's role in shaping contemporary social issues.

• Support emerging scholars and diverse voices in media research from across cultural and geographical contexts.

• Serve as a resource for academics, media professionals, policymakers, and educators seeking to understand and navigate the evolving media landscape.

Scope of the Journal

Media Discourse and Society is a peer-reviewed, open-access academic journal published by the Department of Mass Communication at the Virtual University of Pakistan. The journal serves as an interdisciplinary platform for critical scholarship in the fields of media, communication, and cultural studies, with a strong commitment to addressing contemporary societal issues through theoretical, empirical, and practice-based research.

The journal seeks to advance the understanding of the dynamic relationship between media and society in both local and global contexts. It particularly encourages scholarship that reflects the sociocultural realities of Pakistan, while remaining open to comparative and international perspectives.

The journal welcomes original research articles, theoretical contributions, case studies, and critical reviews that explore contemporary and classical themes in mass communication. Interdisciplinary research drawing from sociology, political science, cultural studies, psychology, gender studies, media technologies, and development communication is also encouraged.

Core Areas of Interest

Topics include, but are not limited to:

• Digital Media, Society, and Culture

• Media Literacy and Disinformation

• Journalism Practices and Ethics

• Discourse Analysis in Media and Communication

• Representation and Identity

• Communication and Development

• Media Policy, Regulation, and Governance

• AI and Emerging Technologies in Media

• Film, Television, and Visual Culture

• Environmental Communication and Media

• Political Communication

• Advertising and Public Relations

• Science and Health Communication

• Risk and Crisis Communication

• Media Activism and Social Change

Frequency of Journal

Publication Frequency

• Publication: MDS is published Bi-annually.

• Special Issues: These may be announced periodically based on emerging themes, conferences, or collaborations.

Submission Method
Manuscripts must be submitted electronically via the journal’s submission portal or email.

Ethical Guidelines

General Ethical Standards

All research submitted to Media Discourse and Society must adhere to the highest ethical standards. Authors, reviewers, and editors are expected to act with integrity, transparency, and accountability throughout the publication process. The journal follows the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and APA Ethical Principles.

Ethical Guidelines for Authors

• Originality and Plagiarism: Submissions must be original, unpublished, and not under consideration elsewhere. Plagiarism in any form (including self-plagiarism and AI-generated content without attribution) is strictly prohibited. All manuscripts will be screened using plagiarism detection tools (e.g., Turnitin).

• Authorship Criteria: Only individuals who have made significant contributions to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the study should be listed as authors. The corresponding author must ensure that all co-authors have reviewed and approved the final version.

• Conflicts of Interest: All authors must disclose any financial or personal relationships that could influence the work (funding sources, institutional affiliations, etc.). A conflict-of-interest statement must be included in the manuscript.

• Human Rights: For research involving human participants, informed consent and ethical clearance from an institutional review board (IRB) or ethics committee must be obtained.

• Data Transparency and Reproducibility: Authors should provide access to raw data and methodological details where feasible. Data should be stored responsibly and made available upon request.

• APA Referencing Style: All citations and references must strictly follow APA 7th Edition guidelines. In-text citations should include author(s) and year (e.g., Smith, 2021). Full references should be included at the end of the paper in APA format.

Ethical Guidelines for Reviewers

• Confidentiality: Reviewers must treat all manuscripts as confidential and should not use any information obtained through peer review for personal advantage.

• Objectivity and Constructive Feedback: Reviews should be objective, thorough, and respectful. Reviewers should avoid personal criticism and provide constructive suggestions.

• Conflict of Interest: Reviewers must disclose any conflict of interest and recuse themselves if they cannot offer an unbiased evaluation.

Ethical Guidelines for Editors

• Fair and Unbiased Decisions: Editorial decisions will be based solely on academic merit and relevance to the journal’s scope, without regard to race, gender, religion, or political beliefs.

• Confidentiality: Editors must protect the confidentiality of all submitted manuscripts and reviewers’ identities (unless agreed otherwise).

• Handling Misconduct: Editors will investigate all allegations of research or publication misconduct following COPE guidelines. If misconduct is proven, appropriate corrective actions (e.g., retraction, erratum, notice of concern) will be taken.

Copyright, Licensing, and Open Access

• Authors must confirm that the work is free of copyright infringement.

• The journal operates under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, granting non-commercial reuse with proper attribution.

Corrections, Retractions, and Appeals

• The journal will publish corrections for errors that affect the interpretation or reliability of the published work.

• Authors may appeal editorial decisions by submitting a formal request with justifying evidence.

Publication Charges

We are committed to supporting the global academic community by ensuring that the dissemination of high-quality research is free from financial barriers. Therefore, the Journal of Media Discourse and Society does not charge authors any fees at any stage of the publication process.

Sources of Funding
The Media Discourse and Society operates on an open-access, non-commercial model. The journal is primarily supported through institutional backing and academic contributions. No fees are charged for manuscript submission or peer review.

Content and Licensing

The Media Discourse and Society - Virtual University of Pakistan is an open-access journal. It is committed to promoting the free and responsible dissemination of academic knowledge. To support open access principles and ensure wide visibility of published research, all content in the journal is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) International License.

Creative Commons License – CC BY-NC 4.0
Under this license, authors retain full copyright of their work, while allowing others to:

• Share – copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format

• Adapt – remix, transform, and build upon the material

Provided that the following conditions are met:

• Attribution (BY): Proper credit must be given to the original author(s), a link to the license must be provided, and any changes made must be indicated clearly.

• Non-commercial (NC): The material may not be used for commercial purposes.

This licensing framework enables broader academic collaboration and encourages the ethical reuse of scholarly content for teaching, learning, and further research, without financial or legal barriers. The material published in the journal can only be accessed and used within the open-access scope, but cannot be republished.

Content Integrity and Responsibility

All published articles undergo a rigorous peer-review process and are evaluated for academic quality, originality, and relevance. The views expressed in the articles are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the position or policies of the Virtual University of Pakistan. Authors are responsible for ensuring that their submissions:

• Are original and free from plagiarism

• Adhere to ethical research and reporting standards

• Have not been previously published or under consideration elsewhere

• Include proper citation of all referenced sources

By submitting to the journal, authors agree to the terms of the CC BY-NC license and grant the Virtual University of Pakistan the right to publish, archive, and distribute their work in print and digital formats.

Access and Archiving
The journal follows an open-access policy. All articles are freely available online immediately upon publication, within the scope of the mentioned open-access terms and conditions.

Authors Guidelines

Manuscript Requirements

Authors can submit their paper (which are not under consideration by any other journal) by registering on the journal website. Please prepare your manuscript before submission using the following guidelines: Format Manuscript file should be submitted as a Word document.

Article Submission Guidelines

• Article Length: Articles (in English) should be between 5000–7000 words in length.

• Article Title: The title should not exceed 20 words.

• Author Details: These should be supplied on a separate page and must include:

  • Full name and email address of each author

  • Affiliation of each author

  • Indication of the corresponding author

• Abstract: The abstract should be between 200–250 words.

• Keywords: Please provide up to 10 keywords at the end of the abstract.

• Article Classification: The manuscript should be an original research paper following APA guidelines.

• Main Text Structure:

  • Title

  • Abstract

  • Introduction

  • Materials and Methods / Methodology

  • Analysis and Results

  • Discussion

  • Conclusion

  • References

• Tables and Figures: These should follow APA guidelines.

• Acknowledgements: Include acknowledgements if any.

• References: All references should follow the APA 7th Edition and be presented as a reference list. Use APA resources for guidelines before submitting your article.

Peer Review Process

Media Discourse and Society follows a rigorous double-blind peer review process to ensure the quality, validity, and originality of all published manuscripts. This process upholds international ethical standards and ensures a fair, constructive, and transparent evaluation of scholarly work.

Review Policy

This journal has adopted a double-blind reviewing policy where both the referee and author remain anonymous throughout the process. Please remove all identifying features from the paper itself, ensuring that the author's identity is not revealed.

Peer Review Process Stages

1. Initial Editorial Screening

   • Manuscripts are assessed for scope, ethical compliance, and basic scholarly quality.

   • Non-compliant manuscripts may be desk-rejected.

2. Double-Blind Peer Review

   • Approved manuscripts are sent to at least two independent, anonymous reviewers.

   • Reviewers evaluate originality, methodology, significance, and clarity.

3. Reviewer Recommendations & Editorial Decision

   • Reviewers recommend: Accept, Minor/Major Revisions, or Reject.

   • The Editor-in-Chief makes the final decision based on reviewer feedback.

4. Revision & Final Acceptance

   • Authors of R&R manuscripts must submit a revised version with a detailed response letter.

   • Accepted papers undergo copyediting and formatting before publication.

Timeline: The journal strives to complete the peer review process within 8 to 12 weeks.

Conflict of Interest

All authors are requested to disclose any actual or potential conflict of interest including any financial, personal or other relationships with other people or organizations within three years of beginning the submitted work that could inappropriately influence, or be perceived to influence, their work. This disclosure must be placed before the reference list.

Journal of Media Discourse and Society
Department of Mass Communication | Virtual University of Pakistan