FORWARD is open to all first and second-year undergraduate students currently enrolled for the semester. Third-year students enrolled in a five-year undergraduate program are also eligible to apply. Over the years, the publication has welcomed staff members from a wide range of academic programs. Bringing together various backgrounds, experiences, struggles, and perspectives has always made FORWARD stronger.

Your learning extends beyond the role you applied for. Writers in FORWARD have the opportunity to explore different categories of campus journalism: news, feature, opinion, sports, and literary writing, while gaining hands-on experience in interviewing, fact-checking, and researching. Likewise, members of the Creatives team work on magazine layouts, publication branding, photography, video production, folio creation, and newsletters. While every member has an official designation, collaboration is part of the experience. Sometimes, writers may contribute to creative projects, while members of the Creatives team may assist in other editorial work whenever the opportunity arises. At its core, FORWARD encourages every staff member to understand how stories come together, from the first idea to the final publication.

Most of FORWARD’s journalistic content—including news, feature, opinion, sports, newsletters, and online posts—is published in English. Filipino is primarily used for literary works and selected creative outputs, where the language best complements the piece.

Not at all. It is part of the process to make mistakes, and being part of FORWARD does not exempt you from making them. You should not feel bad about not knowing everything all at once, as every written and creative output goes through countless revisions and critiques before it is ready to be published. What matters most is your accountability and willingness to accept feedback and improve with every assignment.

Treat your probationary period as an opportunity to learn how the publication works and where you can contribute best. Be proactive, stay curious, and take initiative, whether that means volunteering for assignments, preparing before meetings, or asking for clarification when needed. No one expects you to know everything on day one. Show up prepared, stay open to feedback, and remember: ask, ask, ask.

Being part of FORWARD even in your probationary period requires your full commitment. Productions and coverages will take up some of your weekends and even holidays to meet deadlines. The commitment is real, but so are the experiences that come with it. The hours you invest, the nights you try to spend polishing your craft, and the long meetings will always be worthwhile.

Every staff member leaves the publication with something different. Some leave with stronger writing, sharper creative skills, or a portfolio they never imagined building. Others leave with friendships, mentors, opportunities, and stories that shape the way they see the world. Long after graduation, the articles, photographs, and magazines become memories of what you created together. More often than not, you’ll remember the people beside you while creating them.

One of the reasons many FORWARD alumni look back on the publication with so much fondness is because of the people they met along the way. Between deadlines, hectic coverages, productions, and late-night revisions, you’ll find yourself sharing both the pressure and the victories with the people who understand the journey. It’s not difficult to find friends in the publication; what’s difficult is knowing how to bid them goodbye.

That is something every applicant has to answer for themselves. FORWARD will challenge you to write better, create with purpose, think more critically, and produce work you’ll be proud to call your own. Along the way, you’ll build your portfolio, cover stories that matter, and discover opportunities that reach far beyond the newsroom. If you choose to join, the work you create may become part of FORWARD’s story, and FORWARD may become part of yours.