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Join the Talon

The Talon is always seeking writers, reporters and photographers. Any and all majors are welcome. All skill levels are appreciated; our experienced staff is happy to help train you on the job.

In addition, we are currently seeking several editorial positions including:

-Assistant Copy Editor

-Assistant Sports Editor

– Assistant News Editor

If you are interested in working with the Talon or have any questions, please contact our Fall 2023 Editor-in-Chief, Haley Shanahan, at haley.shanahan@eagles.oc.edu for more information.

What does the Talon do? 

When you think of journalism, what comes to mind first? Watergate? The #MeToo movement? The Boston Globe spotlight team?

Throughout American history, journalists have played a significant role in preserving democracy, informing the public and highlighting both the good and bad of people and society as a whole.

At Oklahoma Christian University, The Talon is a dedicated group of students who take the core ideologies of journalism and apply them directly to the campus where they work, study and live.

We are at every SGA meeting and on top of funding issues, tuition hikes, campus trends and Title IX violations. We also keep a close eye on state and national news to see how it might impact students and faculty on campus.

But, not every story is an investigative article. We cover the fun stuff as well, like Spring Sing, Homecoming and Club Night. We highlight organizations and groups of people who are making the world a better place and deserve to be recognized. Our campus calendar and intramural schedule also serve as resources for the Oklahoma Christian student body.

While reporting is not always a glamorous or easy job, it certainly is a satisfying one. We hope you will not only make Oklahoma Christian your home but also consider writing for the Talon during your time on campus.

How many sections does the Talon have?

The Talon has five sections—news, sports, features, entertainment and opinions.

What is required of reporters, assistant editors and section editors? 

Reporters write one story per week, assigned to them by their section editor. A typical news or features story will contain three sources and will be 600 to 800 words in length.

Assistant editors are expected to provide the Talon with additional content, writing an average of two stories per week. They also attend weekly staff meetings and spend five hours per week working in the newsroom.

Section editors write two stories per week, attend weekly staff meetings, assign stories and edit the stories of their assistant editors and reporters. Section editors spend ten hours per week working in the newsroom.

Both reporters and editors receive a one-hour course credit. Editors also earn a scholarship based on the number of hours they work per week.

What makes the Talon unique?

Being a small campus with a tight-knit newsroom staff, student reporters are assigned important stories immediately. They also have the opportunity to advance from reporter to editor quickly if they show strong writing and leadership abilities.

Reporters are also encouraged to share story ideas with their editors and pursue creative enterprise stories that often boost a portfolio or resume. Several of our current staffers have worked or interned for respected media and communications outlets, including Saxum, Oklahoma Watch and The Norman Transcript.

What is your readership like? 

While individual story readership depends on several factors, it is not uncommon for our top stories every week to receive well over 500 page views. Current students, faculty and alumni are the most common readers of the Talon.

We are always looking for new readers and one of the most effective ways we draw readership is through social media. The Talon currently has Facebook, Twitter (@OCTalon) and Instagram (@TalonatOC) accounts. We would love for you to follow us.

I’m not a journalism major. Can I still write for the Talon? 

Yes! The majority of our staff is either journalism or public relations majors, but we do welcome students outside the communication department to write for us.

I’m intrigued. Where do I go to learn more?

You can contact our Fall 2023 Editor-in-Chief, Haley Shanahan, at haley.shanahan@eagles.oc.edu for more information.