About

Staff Writers for The Review contribute their work regularly. The Review publishes in multiple categories: Art, Book Reports, Culture, Dance, Film, Literature, and Music. Writers can write through a range of these categories, or propose an essay that goes beyond the limits of these labels. With 1-2 issues being produced per semester, staff writers generate work for each issue and go through the editing process prescribed. Writers learn about the production process for the magazine and familiarize themselves with the style guide, staff, and expectations of the magazine. All work is published on our website and (soon) in print. Writers uphold the goals and values of The Review, and actively work to expand the outreach of the magazine. Writers may also be asked to write pieces specifically requested by the Editors-in-Chief (EICs) when needed.

Editors work closely with writers and EICs to establish a timeline of editing for each piece. After each round of edits, editors will email the writer (cc Chloe and Lucy on all communications) to let them know their piece is ready for review and a next draft. Additionally, editors will send their main suggestions and points of confusion in a concise paragraph in the body of their email.

1. Round 1 of edits: Editors will receive the first draft of a piece for initial review, where they will closely read and leave comments on grammar, punctuation, clarity, sentence structure, and stylistic choices (all in accordance with our style guide). Additionally, editors will closely pay attention to tone, mood, and voice of the piece, ensuring that a thesis and central argument is present and understandable in the piece. All comments/suggestions must be made in suggestion mode on the Google Doc, do not actually change any of the writer’s work. 
2. Round 2 of edits: After writers have gone through the initial round of edits, they will accept/reject what they see fit. During the second round of revisions, editors will repeat the steps from above with a more direct focus on strengthening the argument and tone of the piece. We are looking for pieces that exhibit a strong thesis that carries throughout the piece; work with what the writer has, but ensure that the argument is clear and visible for the reader.
3. Round 3 of edits: After the piece has gone through three revisions, we hope that it is almost ready for publication. The last round of edits focuses on grammar and individual word choice. Ensure that all lingering clarifying questions are answered.

Creative Designers for The Review work to enhance the aesthetic goals of the magazine through visuals. Creative Designers will be tasked with producing visuals and art to go along with pieces on our website, in print versions, and social platforms. Typically, they will propose images that represent a piece and that can be used as cover art for a piece. The creative team will work with the layout, social media, and web teams to ensure that the aesthetic goals of the magazine are represented in the most artistically creative way. Knowledge/experience with online editing platforms (Canva, Photoshop, etc) is preferred, as well as previous experience with creating visual art. 

The production team will work closely with EICs to establish a timeline for the publication of an issue. They bridge the gap between writers/editors and the print machine. Overseeing the birth of a whole issue, they will be responsible for creating feasible and organized deadlines for issues, such as when all pieces should be completed, when pieces should be published online/in print, and making sure we meet budget constraints. The production team will work with writers and editors to make sure their individual draft dates fall within the specific deadline and are on track to be completed on time. As well, they check the layout and color of the magazine/pieces to ensure they are in quality shape. They will also manage distribution of the magazine in print. 

The layout team is responsible for arranging text graphics, page composition, and visual identity for the magazine. Layout primarily focuses on the in-print version of the magazine, although they will work with the web team to help with website organization. They will adhere to the magazine’s aesthetic goals while organizing pages in a cohesive manner that is accessible to the reader. They will focus on the relationship between text and image, transforming each into a visually appealing spread. They work closely with the visuals, copy, and social media teams to make sure all text is uniform through the different medias of the magazine.

The copy team of the magazine will get involved with the nitty gritty editing aspects of each piece after final drafts are complete. They work with the 5 C’s of copy editing: clear (easy to understand), concise (no filler/unnecessary words), correct (no wrong facts; you are the fact-checker!), cohesive (structured in a straightforward way), consistent (tone and argument is uniform throughout the piece). They refer to our style guide repeatedly, and are detail-oriented individuals who closely review each word of a piece. The copy team is the last pass before publication; everything must be in perfect shape and ready to go after this stage.

The social media team will run our Instagram and (hopefully soon!) other platforms. They are responsible for posting every essay that is published in the magazine, and work with the visuals team to discuss the cover image and additional images as needed for the post. They also are responsible for posting any magazine updates, such as meetings, special events, deadlines, pitch submissions, and where to find physical copies of the magazine. Outreach is a must; unique social media ideas on how to expand the magazine are needed and necessary for the social media team to be thinking about. 

The web team’s domain is our website. They will have access to our website and will be responsible for posting all magazine related content, including essays, announcements, staff profiles, etc. The web team will propose organizational ideas and additional sections of the website that would benefit the magazine and aid with expansion. Working with the visuals and layout team, the web team will also be responsible for ensuring the aesthetic of the magazine is cohesive throughout our online platform. They will be trained on how to use WordPress/GeneratePress and the formatting for our posts. Previous experience with WordPress is preferred.