What PMLA Values
Democratic Governance
- The editor, members of the PMLA Editorial Board, and members of the PMLA Advisory Committee are nominated by the membership at large and appointed by the Executive Council, whose members are also nominated by MLA members and elected by MLA members.
- The PMLA review process is performed by MLA members, for MLA members.
Diversity and Inclusion
- As a generalist journal, PMLA constantly seeks to expand the range of topics and methodologies featured in the journal.
- Scholars from a wide range of institutional types regularly publish in the journal.
- The blind review process fosters the inclusion and citation of work by newer scholars as well as by established members of the profession—graduate students regularly publish work in the journal alongside scholars of all ranks and independent researchers.
- The journal’s special features provide an additional opportunity for outreach and inclusion.
- The journal seeks to represent the diversity of the MLA membership in the reviewers selected and in the composition of its editorial board and advisory committee.
Innovative Research
- Essays published in PMLA open up new fields of inquiry and showcase cutting-edge work being done in a variety of disciplines.
- The sections Criticism in Translation and Little-Known Documents bring newly translated works and archival findings to the attention of a wide audience.
Equity in Review
- The review process for regular, blind-reviewed essays, despite being highly competitive, gives care and attention to each submission.
- All essay submissions receive at least two, and often three, reports from reviewers, who are encouraged to supply thoughtful, substantive feedback.
- Reviewers sometimes elect to identify themselves to authors, promoting a culture of dialogue that goes beyond publication in the journal.
- About twenty percent of articles are recommended to the editorial board for potential publication; the members of the board read and then discuss each article at length and provide substantive feedback.
- Submissions for the journal’s special features, intended to give MLA members a voice in shaping the editorial direction of PMLA, go through a transparent and uniform review process.
MLA Member Involvement
- Nominate yourself or a colleague for a position on the PMLA Editorial Board or PMLA Advisory Committee—look for announcements in the MLA News Digest each fall.
- Help expand what is featured in the journal by submitting articles or contributions to Criticism in Translation or Little-Known Documents.
- Help shape the journal’s editorial direction by submitting proposals for special features (Theories and Methodologies, The Changing Profession).
- Agree to serve as a reviewer or suggest colleagues who might be able to do so.