Open Field Editorial Board

Each year, Open Field, Cornell’s historic literary and art magazine, is produced by a team of student editors, advised by the Director of the Center for the Literary Arts.

Members of the editorial board are eligible to receive .5 course credit (for 2 semesters of ENG 715: Editing) as well as Ingenuity in Action credit for their work. They will gain valuable professional experience with Submittable, InDesign, and Photoshop.

Students may apply for the following positions (positions may be modified or reorganized based on the skills of that year's applicant pool):

Managing Editor. Serves as the point person between the editorial board and the faculty advisor as well as among editorial board members. Plans editorial board meetings. Ensures that publicity, selection committees, layout, and copyediting proceed according to schedule.

Designer. Designs and lays out the magazine using InDesign. Works with the Copyeditor, Poetry and Prose Editors, and Art Editor to organize final versions of accepted submissions and to proofread multiple drafts of the magazine during Blocks 6-7. Works with the faculty advisor and Academic Technology Studio in block 7-8 to finalize files for publication. Experience with InDesign is highly desirable, but some training will be available.

Prose Editor. Drafts the call for prose submissions and works with the Publicist to launch the Submittable site by early Block 4. Works with the Poetry Editor on scheduling and running the literature selection committees in blocks 5-6, which chooses prose pieces to include in the magazine. Communicates with prose writers after selection committees conclude. Works with the Copyeditor on editing of prose pieces using the Open Field Style Guide and input from authors. Participates in other tasks as needed.

Poetry Editor. Drafts the call for poetry submissions and works with the Publicist to launch the Submittable site by early Block 4. Works with the Prose Editor on scheduling and running the literature selection committees in blocks 5-6, which chooses poems to include in the magazine. Communicates with poets after selection committees conclude. Works with the Copyeditor on editing of poems using the Open Field Style Guide and input from authors. Participates in other tasks as needed.

Art Editor. Drafts the call for art submissions and works with the Publicist to launch the Submittable site by early Block 4 and on outreach to artists. May help artists arrange photography of their work to encourage submissions. Schedules and runs the art selection committee in Blocks 5-6, which chooses artwork to include in the magazine. Communicates with artists after selection committees conclude. Works with the Designer to ready high-res files for the accepted artwork. Experience with Photoshop is preferred, but some training will be available. Participates in other tasks as needed.

Publicist. Takes the lead on advertising for submissions and for the art and literature selection committees. Holds workshops, write-ins, and/or other events to encourage submissions during Block 4 (and possibly over winter break and the first week of Block 5). Assists with the magazine launch at Awards Night in Block 8 and in distributing magazine copies around campus. Participates in other tasks as needed.

Copyeditor. Coordinates copyediting and proofreading between the Designer and the Poetry, Prose, and Art Editors. Conducts final proofreading passes in block 7, in coordination with the faculty advisor, before the issue goes to press. Participates in other tasks as needed.

Assistant Editor. Assists the Publicist with planning and advertising. Assists the Poetry, Prose, and Art Editors with all selection committee meetings. Participates in other tasks as needed.

All positions: All positions require strong communication skills, attention to detail, and the ability to work independently as well as with a team. In addition to the areas of focus listed above, the entire editorial board will meet regularly with one another throughout the editorial and publication process. Once a block, the board will also meet with the faculty advisor to learn about a specific topic related to the editorial and publication process.

To Apply: By Thursday, September 25, 2025, at noon, send rentel@cornellcollege.edu the following in the body of an email:

(a) a short paragraph describing why you'd like to join the editorial board and outlining prior experiences that prepare you to do so; also indicate whether you have sufficient time to devote to this responsibility (up to roughly 40 hours/semester);

(b) the three positions you're most interested in, ranked, with brief comments regarding relevant skills; (include any positions you would not take on, if any).

(c) the name of one Cornell faculty or staff member who has agreed to serve as a reference for you; (the reference does not need to submit a letter but may be contacted with questions);

(d) the times you are available for a 20-minute interview during week two of Block 2 (Sept. 29-Oct. 3), M-F between 11-1 and between 3-6. Indicate whether you are available in-person or virtually.

Note: Students who served on the editorial board in the previous academic year need only submit (b). Students who served on one or more selection committees still need to send the complete application and should note selection committee experience in (a).

Only complete applications, according to the instructions above, will be considered. If you have questions prior to applying, email rentel@cornellcollege.edu before the deadline.

The call for members of the selection committee (who read and review submissions but do not serve a role on the board) will go out later this year.