Call for Staff

Apply to be a Member of the MJLC Staff

Staff applications for Spring of 2024 are CLOSED.

The Madison Journal of Literary Criticism is soliciting Staff applications for Spring 2024 only. The Staff offers its members firsthand experience in editing, publishing, finance, and public relations, as well as the unique opportunity to participate in an international selection process. This is an excellent and rare opportunity for all literature and non-literature majors, and especially for those considering graduate school or a career in publishing. To be eligible, you must be a University of Wisconsin- Madison student. All UW-Madison students are eligible to apply, regardless of year or major.

If interested in serving on the Editorial Team please complete the editor application. If interested in serving on the administrative team, please complete the administrative application. To apply for graphics and layout, please complete the graphics and layout application. For all applications, please send as a PDF or Word Doc to mjlc@rso.wisc.edu. Any questions may also be directed to that address. You will receive an email in response with information on our interview process.

Applications are DUE: DEC. 1st at 11:59PM

Staff Responsibilities:

The MJLC is first and foremost a study group. Staff members are required to attend all weekly study group meetings on Tuesdays from 6-7pm in Vilas Hall.

After study group, we hold staff meetings from 7-8pm where we discuss magazine production, events, and coordinate as a whole. Once a month, we hold another Staff meeting to review extra work.

All staff members also have the opportunity to write and publish staff pieces and online features as well as take on passion projects. 

All roles on the MJLC staff are volunteer positions. Positions are held throughout the academic year with general turnover at the end of spring semester. We have short term transitions over winter break to account for flexibility. All positions are guaranteed 2 years unless issues arise. 

Editor Positions:

Editor positions are entry level roles. Editors are responsible for reading and evaluating submitted pieces to prepare the journal for publication. Each Editor will apply to a specific area of work: art, poetry, prose, non fiction, fiction, or academic essays. After submissions close, editors are responsible for choosing final pieces for the edition and working directly with the authors to implement edits and finalize pieces for publication. We are looking for editors who are passionate about their specific area of literature/arts, abolition and the themes of our publication, as well as those who are strong in both reading and writing skills. 

Submissions are typically open and from August-October and January-March, meaning much of the Editor’s work occurs here, followed by a final week of decision making after submissions close, and two weeks of communication with authors. October and March are typically the busiest months for our editors. 

Please read the following position descriptions for more information:

Art:

Analyze 2-3 pieces per week

Choose final pieces and cover for magazine

Work to pair artwork with chosen literary pieces

Poetry: 
Read and evaluate 2-3 pieces per week

Choose final pieces for magazine 

Communicate edits with chosen authors 

Prose: 

Read and evaluate 2-3 pieces per week (~1-2 hrs/week)

Choose final pieces for magazine 

Communicate edits with chosen authors (~5-7 hrs/week during the final week of submissions)

Non-fiction: 

Read and evaluate 2-3 pieces per week (~1-2 hrs/week)

Choose final pieces for magazine 

Communicate edits with chosen authors (~3-5 hrs/week during busiest)

Fiction: 

Read and evaluate 2-3 pieces per week (~1-2 hrs/week)

Choose final pieces for magazine 

Communicate edits with chosen authors (~5-7 hrs/week during the final week of submissions)

Academic (2): 

Read and evaluate 2-3 pieces per week

Choose final pieces for magazine 

Collaborate with other Academic Editors

Communicate edits with chosen authors (~3 hours/week. Up to ~8 hours for the final week of submissions and for the week of finalizing edits) 

Administrative Positions 

Administrative Positions are hired internally, as they are not entry level positions. All administrative members must hold a position as an editor for at least one semester before applying. 

Returning editors applying for admin: please fill out the administrative application and email both the application and your resume to mjlc@rso.wisc.edu. Any questions may also be directed to that address.

Applications are DUE: DEC. 1st at 11:59PM

Managing Director: Direct second to EIC for all things management. We are looking for managing directors with great organizational skills, clear communication, strong leadership and the ability to set and enforce deadlines. Managing Directors do not work within a specific area. They are responsible for space reservations, WIN management, assisting with special projects, as well as editing staff pieces and blurb spreads. (~5-7 hrs/week) 

Administrative Assistant: Will help with any extra administrative tasks and take overflow work from other management positions. (There are no exact hours but can range from ~2-4 hrs/week when busy.)

Managing Editor: Manages all editors in their review and selection of submissions. Serves to answer any questions about the process and editing nuances. Responsible for weekly check ins, editing of staff pieces and blurbs, and managing online features. We are looking for managing directors with great organizational skills, clear communication, strong leadership and the ability to set and enforce deadlines. (~2-4 hrs/week or ~4-8 during busiest)

Publishing Director: In charge of ensuring the journal’s successful publication each semester. Will work closely with DoIT printing to finalize the journal’s printing. Responsible for keeping the group on track with publication timeline, writing and sending acceptance/rejection emails, and facilitating editor/author communication with selected submissions. Before publication, they aid with editing and outreach efforts. Typically busier during beginning of the semester with outreach and the end after the edition has been compiled. (~2-4 hrs/week)

Outreach Coordinator: In charge of heightening the profile and visibility of MJLC both at UW-Madison and universities nation-wide. This includes member promotion at UW-Madison and submission promotion everywhere. Will be in contact with various English/Literature/Art Departments across the country for the purpose of soliciting submissions. Also responsible for giving and organizing in class presentations, planning MJLC events and collaborations, and managing social media. Ideal for those with interest/experience in public relations. (~3-4 hrs/week; most busy at the beginning of the semester for promotion ~6-7 hrs/week). 

Financial Director: In charge of the journal’s finances, including tracking all spending/purchasing, managing budget allocation, organizing joint event budgets, managing UWCU account, and organizing fundraising. Also responsible for finding, writing, and applying to grants for the next year’s budget. Ideal for those interested in the financial side of publishing. 

Graphics and Layout Designers (2): 

Graphic designers will begin recruiting at the end of fall semesters when positions open for the following academic year. Interested applicants are encouraged to attend study group and meet with our senior designers to get to know our team’s creative process before applying. 

Please fill out the graphics and layout application and email both the application and your portfolio to mjlc@rso.wisc.edu. Any questions may also be directed to that address.

Both positions are responsible for designing the layout of spreads and pages for both submitted pieces and staff pieces. This is a collaborative effort and will require meeting to design a unified vision. Will work with artists and authors to create visual graphics for all pieces. (~3-5 hrs/week; most busy during November and end of semester after submissions close ~10 hrs/week.) This team uses Indesign and Illustrator; experience is highly preferred. 

Social Media Focus: Responsible for designing all graphics for social media posts.

Website Focus: Responsible for maintaining the website as it changes with submissions and release periods. Will design and publish online features.

Editor in Chief (2):

EICs are hired internally as they require at least one semester of management experience for application. EICs will begin recruiting replacements at the end of fall semesters when positions open for the following academic year. Applicants will apply in January/February and shadow for the following spring semester until official turnover in May. 

EICs are the overall project managers of The MJLC, overseeing all management and editor positions. They run weekly meetings and facilitate Human Resources needs.




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