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Write for the Campus Newspaper to Boost Your Application
April 6, 2026 • 12 min read
Write for the Campus Newspaper: Building Your Personal Brand and Network
You don't have to be a journalism major to benefit from writing for the campus newspaper. At Santa Monica College, the Corsair Newspaper is an award-winning publication that provides students with a public platform to influence campus culture and build a portfolio of published work.
1. Why "Published Work" Matters for Transfer
When you apply to a university, you are essentially making an "argument" for why you should be admitted. Providing a link to a published article in a legitimate newspaper is concrete evidence of your communication skills, research ability, and professionalism.
Being part of the Corsair isn't just an extracurricular—it's a credential. It shows that your work was vetted by editors and read by thousands of people.
Skillsets You Develop:
- Narrative Building: Learning how to tell a story that people actually want to read.
- Fact-Checking: Verifying sources and navigating the ethics of journalism.
- Networking: As a reporter, you have a "VIP Pass" to interview campus leaders, administrators, and guest speakers.
- Digital Literacy: Understanding how a website (like Guyde!) uses content to drive traffic and engagement.
2. Niche Roles: Photography, Layout, and Design
If you hate writing, don't ignore the newspaper. Modern journalism is visual.
The Corsair is always looking for:
- Staff Photographers: Great for students looking to build a professional portfolio for art school or film programs.
- Digital Illustrators: Creating graphics for opinion pieces and feature stories.
- Social Media Managers: Managing the X (Twitter) and Instagram presence for the publication—one of the most sought-after jobs in modern marketing.
- Layout Designers: Using Adobe InDesign to structure the physical paper and the digital CMS.
3. How to Join the Corsair (The Classes)
At SMC, the newspaper is primarily run through the Journalism 16 and 17 classes.
The Enrollment Hack:
"If you want to be on the staff, you must enroll in the Journalism production classes. These are usually three-unit courses that take place in the Corsair newsroom. It functions like a real job—you have deadlines, staff meetings, and peer-review sessions."
Search for Professor Shari Adelman on the Guyde grade database—she is a legend in the department and has mentored many students who now work for the LA Times and New York Times.
4. Using the Newspaper for Your UC Transfer Essays
Journalism provides you with a constant stream of "Conflict and Resolution" stories—exactly what UCs want in their PIQs (Personal Insight Questions).
Example Essay Hook:
"I spent four weeks investigating the SMC faculty pay disputes. Through ten interviews and three Freedom of Information Act requests, I uncovered a critical shift in district spending. This experience taught me that data is only as powerful as the narrative behind it..."
This shows research, perseverance, and intellectual curiosity.
Summary Checklist
- 01Check the schedule for Journalism 2 (Introduction to News Writing) or Journalism 16.
- 02Identify your beat—Sports, Campus Life, Opinion, or investigative.
- 03Archive all your published links—you will need these for your 'Activities' section on the Common App.
Looking for more creative outlets? Read our guide on Joining Performing Arts Groups or Starting a Campus Club.