Join Onward State: Fall 2024 Application

Do you love Penn State? Do you love writing and taking pictures? Do you love having your work seen by thousands of people? Most importantly, do you love having fun? If so, you might just be interested in working for Onward State.

Onward State is hiring for the fall semester and is looking for writers, photographers, graphic designers, business specialists, and podcasters to join our team. If the idea of your work being seen by hundreds of thousands of people excites you, then Onward State is for you.

Onward State is, quite simply, Penn State’s blog. Since three freshmen put their heads together in November 2008 and founded Onward State, we’ve provided a combination of commentary that is fair, authentic, and sometimes humorous ; analysis that is critical and irreverent ; and news that is relevant and accurate .

At Onward State, we cover anything relating to Penn State and State College. We cover school politics, ranging from Penn State’s Board of Trustees to UPUA and student government . We cover protests , concerts , and on-campus events. We cover Penn State football and travel to every game, from Illinois to the Peach Bowl . We also like to have some fun and have power-ranked every hot dog at Penn State sporting venues , created the ultimate campus bathroom guide , died on Mount Nittany , and figured out how to live in the HUB .

For a better look at Onward State, you can check out our expansive, 40,000-post archives .

As an Onward State staff member, you’ll both get to have a blast while gaining invaluable experience at the same time. In contributing to Onward State with important coverage, our team members put together impressive additions to their resumes and portfolios. It’s why we have proud Onward State alumni at the likes of the Wall Street Journal, Bleacher Report, and more.

If you create content for Onward State, people will see it. Onward State is one of the world’s most-followed student-run news outlets. Thousands of Penn Staters read the website and see our social media pages every day.

You don’t have to be a communications major or be a third-generation Penn Stater to write for Onward State, either. Onward State is made up of a diverse group of people who come from around the country and all walks of life. We’re just looking for Penn State students who can help inform the Penn State community as best they can. Whether you can name the starting left tackle from the 2014 Pinstripe Bowl or are just figuring out what a whoop is, there’s a place for you at Onward State.

If contributing to Onward State sounds like something up your alley, fill out an application! Applications are due by noon on Sunday, September 15. For details about writing, photography, and business positions, read more below.

Writers

Onward State’s main focus is telling the Penn State story and generating honest conversations to enrich and improve the university community and experience.

Our writers cover everything around campus and in town. We will never tell you can only write about one topic. You’re never just a basketball writer or just a student goverment 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 15 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 interested in people who want to start conversations and keep others informed. We want people who want to use their words to make Penn State a better place.

There’s one requirement to being an Onward State staff writer: you must love the Oxford comma. Seriously, actually, and truly.

Visual Staff

Our talented visual staff is what makes Onward State shine. 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 on our website and social media pages, including Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. This includes everything from shooting football games from the sidelines to capturing THON or big-name concerts like the Jonas Brothers or Luke Co mbs . Our photographers are also often on the scene to capture campus protests through their lens.

Visual staffers 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 b lind 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.

Business Specialists

Onward State is adding business specialists to work with our parent company, LazerPro. Folks working in the business department will work to generate revenue for Onward State to support our staffers as they cover Penn State. Specialists will sell ads, fundraise, and much more.

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 .

If any aspect of working for Onward State is interesting to you, don’t hesitate to apply. You could be one of the next great Onward State staff writers who make this blog, and Penn State, special. Any questions about Onward State or the application can be directed to managing editor Joe Lister at joe@onwardstate.com .