It’s that time of year again, folks!

Onward State is hiring for the spring semester and is looking for motivated writers, photographers, graphic designers, videographers, and podcasters to join our team. If the prospect of your content being seen by hundreds of thousands of people excites you, then Onward State is for you.

Onward State is Penn State’s blog. Ever since being founded in November 2008, our goal has been to provide a combination of commentary that is fair, authentic, and sometimes humorous; analysis that is critical and irreverent; and news that is relevant and accurate.

Here at Onward State, we cover pretty much anything that happens at Penn State or in State College. That may mean writing about more serious things, like the Board of Trustees, controversial campus events, vandalism incidents, or secret societies. Other times, it could mean covering Penn State sporting events like the Rose Bowl or the wrestling national championships. We also like to have fun, so we’ve written about cocktagons, spent a day with a miniature Joe Paterno statue, and have even rode in the NUTmobile.

For a closer look at what we do, you can check out our expansive archives.

As a member of Onward State, not only will you have fun, but you’ll get invaluable experience, too! By creating content for our site and covering live events, our staffers pick up real skills and obtain tangible examples of their work. Onward State has alumni at notable outlets like the Wall Street Journal, The Athletic, the NFL, and more for a reason.

If you produce content for Onward State, people will see it. Onward State is one of the largest student-run media outlets in the world, and it boasts an audience of hundreds of thousands of like-minded people who are eager to read about Penn State and express their opinions.

Don’t feel like you have to be a communications major or a lifelong Penn Stater to join Onward State, either. Onward State is made up of students of all different majors from places all over the country. All we ask is that you come eager to get involved! We welcome Penn State students of all ages as long as they’re motivated and ready to bring creative ideas to the table. It’s the students involved that continue to make Onward State what it is. There would be no Onward State without them.

If any of this interests you, we encourage you to give Onward State a try! Applications to join our staff are due by 5 p.m. on Friday, January 27. You’ll find the application, as well as a breakdown of our staff, below.

Writers

Onward State’s main focus is telling the Penn State story and generating honest conversations in the hopes of enriching the university community and experience.

Our writers cover everything around campus and in town, including student government, THON, the Board of Trustees, Penn State sports, downtown businesses, and campus events. We even take some deep dives with Penn State history lessons. We will never tell you can only write about one topic. You’re never just a basketball writer or just a crime reporter. In fact, we encourage you to broaden your horizons and dabble in several different topics.

If you didn’t write for your high school paper, that’s not a problem. We’re not professional journalists — we’re students committing acts of journalism. For over 14 years, Onward State has welcomed people from all majors and walks of life that share a passion for Penn State.

As a wise Onward Stater once said, you can teach anyone proper grammar or how to write a basketball recap. We’re looking for people who are eager to start conversations and keep others informed. Ultimately, we want people who want to use their words to make Penn State a better place.

There’s only one requirement: You must wholeheartedly stan the Oxford comma. Seriously, that’s a dealbreaker.

Visual Staff

Our visual staff continues to get bigger, and for that matter better, than ever before. If you think your work deserves to be seen by a wide audience at Penn State, you’ve found the right place.

Our photographers shoot events and show off Penn State in many different capacities. This includes everything from shooting football games from the sidelines to capturing the magic of THON or big-name concerts like the Jonas Brothers or Luke Combs. Additionally, our photographers are often on the scene to capture campus protests through their lens.

Members of our visual staff also help us create viral content for our hundreds of thousands of social media followers, like the infamous “icepocalypse” video or Friday Night Lights intro. We’re always looking for creative video ideas, such as holding people’s hands while crossing College Avenue, asking students what song they’re listening to, or having blind ice cream tasting contests.

Additionally, we’re always trying to add more flair to make our graphics more engaging. Whether it be for Penn State football or for THON, we love sharing graphics to engage our audience.

Podward State

Podward State is an Onward State-produced podcast that releases episodes on Spotify and YouTube during Penn State’s fall and spring semesters. Each episode features discussions about all things Penn State, including sports, news, student life, entertainment, and more.

Founded by Matthew Ogden, Matt Paolizzi, and Mitch Stewart, Podward State has grown over the past few years and is now produced by several members of Onward State’s all-student staff. Our podcast has welcomed guests like Trace McSorley, Franco Harris, and even the Willard Preacher.

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If you like what you’ve heard so far, please consider applying today. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to managing editor Gabe Angieri at [email protected].