Editorial Collective Roles and Expectations

Who's who in the editorial collective

There are a number of roles on every EC that allow people to participate according to your availability, interests, and skill set. Every member of the EC is encouraged to participate at any stage of the process, from article selection to general discussions on the theme and message of the issue. See editorial timeline to learn how this plays out, and check out our onboarding presentation for more info.

Main Editorial

• Lead Editor: edits articles for structure and content along with Co-Editor. Is main point of contact with authors. Tracks deadlines for their assigned piece(s) and is responsible for updating the master spreadsheet and following the editorial process.

  • Estimated time: 3-5 hours per each draft of article (typically 3-4 drafts before fact-checking), plus bi-weekly meetings.

  • Availability: responsive to emails to/from author and co-editor/collective within 48 hours.

• Co-Editor: works with Lead Editor to edit articles for structure and content.

  • Estimated time: 3 hours per each draft of article (typically 3-4 drafts before fact-checking), plus meetings.

  • Availability: responsive to emails to/from author and co-editor/collective within 48 hours.

• Editor at Large: Each magazine issue will have two or more editors-at-large (EALs) to help advise editors and fact-checkers with the overall development of the piece(s) they are working on. EALs are selected by the managing editor for each issue. EALs have previous editing experience for SftP and elsewhere, and can help answer questions about tone, structure, clarity, scope, and communicating effectively with editors. They also serve as a "third reviewer" on each piece before the final draft to ensure we are maintaining editorial standards. Lead editors can contact the assigned editor-at-large at any point in the editing process with questions, and should share a draft with them, at latest, by receipt of the second draft. The Editor-at-Large will also advise on version control of each draft and shepherding through fact-checking and proofreading.

  • Estimated time: 3-5 hours to review near-final drafts, plus meetings.

  • Availability: quick turnaround (48h) upon receiving drafts; responsive to editors within 48 hours.

• Technical Editor (Fact Checker): fact-checks near-final articles for accuracy, checks quotes and sources. Can attend editorial collective meetings but does not edit.

  • Estimated time: 3-5 hours during fact-checking period

  • Availability: on-call for quick answers for a two-week period near the end of the editing process.

• Copy Editor: line-edits near-final articles after fact-checking for grammar and spelling. Can also proofread.

  • Estimated time: 1 hour per article

  • Availability: Active in the final stages of editing; must be available to turn around assignments within 72 hours and be responsive to editor and Proofreading Lead very quickly.

• Proofreader: checks final articles after copy editing for any typos, and reviews magazine print layout for errors. Can also copy edit.

  • Estimated time: 1 hour per article

  • Availability: Active in the final stages of editing; must be available to turn around assignments within 72 hours and be responsive to editor and Proofreading Lead very quickly.

Other

• Translator: translates articles into other languages as needed, selected in collaboration with Translation Collective.

  • Availability: Translation starts once articles have been proofread and are final in original language, unless translating concurrently with help from authors/editors.

• Art editors: help solicit artwork, find stock/Creative Commons images, or donates original artwork or spot illustrations for the magazine.