Orange Media Network

Spring 2024 — This spring, multiple students who participate in Oregon State University’s co-curricular student media program Orange Media Network received internships and awards. OMN includes six student-run mediums — a newspaper and accompanying news site, three magazines, a radio station and a TV station.

Ashton Bisner

Ashton Bisner, recognized by The College Media Business & Advertising Managers. (Photo credit: Orange Media Network)

A record seven OMN students were selected for internships by the University of Oregon’s Charles Snowden Program for Excellence in Journalism. The interns will work with news organizations across Oregon this summer for 10 weeks.

“I am ecstatic to work for the Bend Bulletin as an intern this summer because of their exciting and upbeat staff, incredible writing and multimedia experimentation,” said Katie Livermore, the editor-in-chief of The Daily Barometer. “My goal is to become a sponge and soak up as much writing and video experience as possible from some of the best Oregon reporters and bring what I learn back to OMN and my future career."

Livermore is a third-year student studying international studies and creative writing with minors in applied journalism and chemistry.

Emma Coke, editor of the Beaver’s Digest lifestyle magazine, will be reporting for an online news organization in Ashland. Coke will graduate this year with a degree in marine studies and minors in Spanish and applied journalism.

“I’m super excited to participate,” she said. “I haven’t yet had professional newsroom experience and I hope to walk away from this internship with valuable insight into the field, alongside a larger body of work samples and improved journalistic skills.”

Joining them as Snowden interns are James Kelley, working at Jefferson Public Radio; Audrey Saiz, working at The Daily Astorian; Alexander Banks, working at the Baker City Herald; Hannah Lull, working at The Redmond Spokesman, and Cailan Menius-Rash, working at KLCC.

College Media Business & Advertising Managers named Ashton Bisner the top collegiate graphic designer in the nation. Bisner is a senior and the creative lead for Orange Media Network. He oversees a team of designers who work on student magazines as well as rate cards, posters and other promotional material for OMN.

Alan Nguyen

OSU alumnus Alan Nguyen, recognized by The Associated Collegiate Press. (Photo credit: Orange Media Network)

Bisner says that being a part of OMN has allowed him to work with his peers to more freely explore creative ideas. "It provides an opportunity to engage with clients in a more open way," he said. "And the support has been overwhelmingly positive."

The Associated Collegiate Press recognized OSU alumnus Alan Nguyen as the top collegiate graphic designer in the nation at the Pacemakers award ceremony in March.

Nguyen held the position of creative lead for Orange Media Network in the 2021-22 and 2022-23 academic years. He graduated with a degree in business in June 2023 and is an audience visuals designer and national digital editor for USA TODAY.

In addition to being recognized as the Best Advertising Graphic Designer, Nguyen received a third place award for Best Media Kit. He and fellow OMN students Ashton Bisner, Riley LeCocq and Sukhjot Sal received an honorable mention for Best Newspaper Special Section, the 2023 Renter's Guide. Eva Siffert of OMN also received an honorable mention from ACP for a print advertisement for OMN's fall open house.