What will you Tell?

 

Tell Magazine is a peer-reviewed online publication organized by a team of graduate students in coordination with the Department of Gender, Women's and Sexuality Studies (GWSS) at the University of Iowa. It was created in 2018 by GWSS undergraduate students and Dr. Maryann Rasmussen, focusing on political arts and social justice, and then continued as a class project for the graduate seminar, "Foundations of Feminist Inquiry," as part of the GWSS graduate certificate. 

Our publication is inspired by feminist women of color who have been writing in the spirit and at the intersections of This Bridge Called My Back, Making Face/Making Soul, and alternative academic prose.

We publish critical essays, poetry, memoirs, videos, podcasts, art pieces, and interviews covering important issues in feminist theory from various disciplinary perspectives, including, but not limited to, anthropology, sociology, literary studies, religious studies, communication studies, history, visual arts, musicology, among others. We use the following collective principles to guide the form, content, and spirit of submissions and the editorial process:

 

Collective Principles 

 

Tell is devoted to the shared, ethical creation of critical knowledge. 

Tell is a public-facing forum that makes feminist theory accessible to broader audiences. 

Tell is a supportive space for inter and transdisciplinary conversation. 

Tell is committed to intersectional feminisms that combine theory and practice. 

Tell is transparent about its editorial and publication processes.

 

Aims and Scope 

 

Tell Magazine receives student proposals from any program at the University of Iowa whose writing or media/art products engage with GWSS and feminist scholarship and praxis. We look for articulations of feminist theory as practice, conversations between feminist theory and other fields of study, and submissions using feminist theory to explore new research venues. Topics to be covered include, but are not limited to, applied intersectionality, reproductive justice, masculinities, feminist history, Trans studies, gender, and sexual politics. 

In the future, we expect to expand the scope of our publication to broader audiences outside campus. If you have questions, comments, or other inquiries, feel free to email us at you-tell-us@uiowa.edu 

 

Editorial Roles and Responsibilities

 

All co-editors share the following responsibilities:

  • Editorial review of the incoming manuscripts, ensuring adherence to the magazine's style guide, formatting requirements, and scope.
  • Work with the editorial team to maintain the magazine's high standards for academic rigor and research integrity in the accepted manuscripts.
  • Collaborate with the editor-in-chief on developing and implementing the magazine's editorial vision.
  • Identify potential topics for special issues and thematic collections.
  • Stay up-to-date on current research trends within the field.
  • Supervise and mentor co-editors who will take their role in the following periods.
  • Participate in weekly meetings with the editorial board.
  • Contribute to developing and maintaining the magazine's editorial policies.

Aimen Hameed - Content Management Specialist

As the content management specialist for Tell Magazine, I am tasked with overseeing the digital presence and editorial workflow of the publication. My responsibilities encompass a range of duties critical to the efficient operation and development of the magazine's online platform. These include:

  • Website Content Management: I manage and update the magazine's website content to ensure it remains current, engaging, and aligned with our editorial vision.
  • Media and Content Upload: I oversee the uploading and formatting of media files and written content onto the magazine's digital platform, ensuring accuracy, consistency, and adherence to established style guidelines.
  • Submission Review and Commentary: I evaluate submissions received by the magazine, providing insightful commentary on their quality, relevance, and suitability for publication. Additionally, I offer feedback to contributors to enhance their work.
  • Collaborative Editorial Decision-making: As part of the editorial team, I actively participate in discussions and decision-making processes concerning content selection, editorial direction, and strategic planning for the magazine.

Brittany Bahl - Administrative Strategist

The administrative strategist is responsible for managing the regular administrative tasks of the magazine. The duties and responsibilities for this role include the following:
• Design and maintain submission spreadsheets
• Track and manage distribution of editorial team meeting minutes
• Check editorial email account for submissions and meeting agenda items
• Review and analyze workflow processes to identify areas for improvement

Andres Restrepo Sanchez - Manuscript Management
The co-editor of manuscript management works alongside the editor-in-chief to oversee Tell Magazine's editorial process and maintain the quality of its publications. They are responsible for sustaining effective communications between authors, editors, and peer reviewers, assigning new manuscripts to the editorial board, and tracking their flow. Responsibilities Include:

  • Check the email account daily to verify whether new manuscripts have been submitted or if there is any other communication regarding the manuscript's flow. Send a confirmation email to the author(s) who submitted a new manuscript.
  • Assign the new manuscripts to two co-editors for a first round of editorial revision. This round will determine if the manuscript is rejected, advances to peer review, or must be returned to the author for corrections. Inform the author(s) of the decision via email and track the process in the Excel flowchart.
  • Send the manuscripts accepted by the editorial board to two peer reviewers, matching the piece's topic with the reviewers' expertise. Assess the peer reviewer's comments and return the manuscript with corrections to the authors, including editorial and peer reviewers' comments. If the article is rejected or there is substantial discordance between the peer reviewers, check with the editor-in-chief about the possibility of sending it to an additional reviewer or informing the author of the rejection.
  • If a second round of peer review is needed, maintain the article's flow and register its current phase on the chart.
  • Respond to incoming emails daily. Use official templates in each communication.

Jordan R. Ismaiel - Social Media Coordinator

The Social Media Coordinator for Tell Magazine is responsible for the oversight, dissemination, and creation of Tell Magazine content generated for its social media accounts. In collaboration with the Content Management Specialist who oversees the overall web-based platform and the editorial team, the social media coordinator extends all web-based materials to the publication's social media platforms; generating new content alongside regularly-scheduled posts and improving reach to the publication's targeted audience. Responsibilities Include:

  • Coordinating and creating posts on Instagram and Twitter of new articles
  • Coordinating and creating posts on Instagram and Twitter of incoming/outgoing editorial team members
  • Actively engaging through social media channels through the use of likes, comments, reposts, and other platform features with the publication's targeted audience and other tangential communities
  • Coordination and creating special projects on the publication's channels for active community engagement

 

Please check out our most recent Call for Submissions here.