Department of Mass Media
Baker Orange Student Media
News, Radio, Video
The Baker Orange
Baker students, whether they are mass media majors or not, produce the award-winning, student-run newspaper, the Baker Orange. This multimedia organization includes online news, radio, and video productions. In the past decade, the Orange has repeatedly received high distinctions from the Associated Collegiate Press, Kansas Collegiate Media, Society of Professional Journalists, and Kansas Association of Broadcasters, earning the Orange a place in the ACP Hall of Fame. ACP has also honored the Orange with two Pacemaker awards, one of the highest honors in college journalism, for its print edition and online newspaper. We’ve also been recognized with four Pacemaker nominations since 2007.
In 2020 and 2022 won the KCM Gold Prize for Best Website. Over the past three years, staff members have won dozens of KCM and KAB awards recognizing them for their individual contributions to the Orange in areas of writing, photography, audio, video, and social media content.
Orange staff members have the opportunity to attend professional conferences across the nation to learn more about their craft and network with experts in the field. Many students have segued their Orange experience into internships with organizations such as KAKE, KSNT, and The Lawrence Times. Since 2020, two Orange staff members have been awarded the prestigious Pulliam Fellowship, working for the Arizona Republic.
Baker Orange Newspaper
When you become part of this award-winning tradition, you will have endless opportunities to grow as a communicator. Orange staffers work as reporters, graphic designers, photographers, or a combination—you are encouraged to gain experience in all areas during your tenure with the newspaper. You will work with student staffers and editors in planning and executing a series of publications covering general campus news, athletics, column writing, and arts and entertainment, along with features and special projects.
Students also produce photo galleries and social media stories and participate in events to engage campus and the surrounding Baldwin City area. The editorial section allows students to share opinions and insights, providing a voice and open dialogue among the campus community. While the Orange moved online in 2019, as of spring ’22, students produce one print edition each semester in order to further broaden multimedia skills in journalism.
Interested students also have the opportunity to be appointed as a section editor (News, Sports, A&E, Multimedia, Social Media), which are paid work-study positions.
Baker Orange Radio
As a member of the Baker Orange Radio staff, you will work with your peers in planning, promoting, and creating a variety of student-hosted live shows and prerecorded podcasts for the university’s streaming radio station. Past examples include a weekly live roundtable of Baker athletics commentary, a podcast series centered on various aspects of the Baker student experience, and even a true crime podcast about local cases. Students also have the opportunity to work with Orange News staffers to create audio companion pieces to be published in conjunction with written stories. Throughout each semester, student staffers engage in all forms of audio content, giving you a voice around campus and practical experience in radio production and communication with a variety of broadcasting equipment.
Baker Orange Video
Baker Orange Video offers students the opportunity to work both independently and as a team in scripting, producing, and editing video news content. Since 2020, the Orange team has produced a biweekly news rundown program, The Word, in which students are involved in scripting, filming, and editing segments, along with set design and lighting in the Orange TV Studio, with access to 4K HD video cameras and high-end audio equipment. Video staffers also produce stand-alone video news segments and have the opportunity to partner with Orange news reporters to create companion video pieces for publication alongside written articles.
Meet Our Students
“The Orange’s multimedia environment allows for diversity of practice in producing different types of content. The experience of creating something people on campus consume and talk about and depend on is one of the most fulfilling things I’ve done during my time at Baker. All of the staffers come away with practical media skills in journalism and broadcasting and also life skills—preparing for careers, working in teams, and having the option to take on leadership roles. The resources and opportunities offered by the Baker Orange workshops allow for students to explore their talents and interests, even if they’re not media majors, to share ideas, experiences, and important information with our campus and community.”
—Will Hanson | Mass Media Major, Class of 2022; Baker Orange Editor-in-Chief, Fall ’21 – Spring ’22