Do you like writing? Photography? Both? Do you love Penn State and the idea of having your work seen by hundreds of thousands of people?

Well, you’ve stumbled upon the right article. Onward State is hiring for the upcoming semester and searching for new folks to join our staff to tell the Penn State story.

Onward State is, quite simply, Penn State’s blog. We were founded with the purpose of providing commentary that is fair, authentic, and sometimes humorous; analysis that is critical and irreverent; and news that is relevant and accurate.

Onward State covers anything and everything that happens at Penn State or in State College. Often, that means covering Penn State administration, breaking news, or student life. Other times, that could mean covering Penn State sports and events like the Peach Bowl or NCAA Tournaments. We tend to have fun, too, so we’ve penned odes to the Big Ten commercial, brainstormed fake Penn State significant others, and created Penn State macaroni and cheese shapes.

For a more all-encompassing look at what we do, you can check out our massive archives dating back to 2008.

As a member of Onward State, you’ll not only have fun, but you’ll get real-world experience, too. By creating content for our site and covering live events, our staffers pick up real skills and create expansive portfolios. 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 our audience is made up of thousands of Penn Staters who are excited to read and see your work.

You don’t need to be a communications major or bleed blue and white since birth to join Onward State, either. The blog is made up of a diverse staff from all majors and parts of the country and world. The only requirement is that you come eager to contribute. We encourage folks of all ages and backgrounds to apply and bring imaginative ideas to the table. It’s the students that make Onward State as special as it is, and the blog wouldn’t be the same without them.

If any of this sounds like your cup of tea, give Onward State a try! Applications to join our staff are due by noon on Sunday, January 28. You’ll find the application and a breakdown of our staff below.

Writers

Onward State’s primary goal is to share Penn State’s story and create honest conversations in the hopes of bolstering the university community and experience. 

Our writers construct the stories and words published on our site every day, including Penn State sports, THON, downtown businesses, the Board of Trustees, student government, campus events, and more. We do a little bit of everything. Here at Onward State, we’ll always encourage you to experiment and dabble in different things. No one is just a soccer writer or a Borough Council reporter. 

If you didn’t write for your high school newspaper, that’s not a problem. We’re not professional journalists — we’re just students committing acts of journalism. For over 14 years, Onward State has welcomed all majors and students that are passionate about Penn State.

A wise Onward Stater once said that you can teach anyone proper grammar or how to write a basketball recap. We’re searching for people who are excited to start conversations and keep others informed. We want our staffers to use their words to make Penn State a better place. 

There’s only one non-negotiable: you must completely stan the Oxford comma. We take that very seriously around here.

Visual Staff

If you’re interested in reaching an overall audience of 330,000 folks across the world with your photos, videos, or graphics, you’ve come to the right place. 

Our visual staffers shoot events all over campus and State College to capture the Penn State story through a student’s point of view. This includes everything from bowl games to the magic of THON or events like Old Dominion concerts to March Madness. 

Members of our visual staff help us curate video content for our thousands of social media followers, including asking students what song they’re listening to, making our own Christmas song, or making students draw the Nittany Lion from memory.

We’re always looking for graphics designers, too, to help us make our accounts more engaging and catch the attention of students, families, community members, and over 750,000 living alumni.

Podward State

Podward State is an Onward State-produced podcast that releases episodes on Spotify and YouTube throughout Penn State’s fall and spring semesters. Each episode features guest appearances, updates on sports, news, student life, and more, and constant laughs.

Founded by Matt Ogden, Matt Paolizzi, and Mitch Stewart, Podward State is now produced by several members of Onward State’s all-student staff, featuring guests ranging from Katie Feeney to Trace McSorley to Franco Harris.

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