GW Hatchet
Encyclopedia
The GW Hatchet is an independent student newspaper at The George Washington University. Founded in 1904, it is the second-oldest newspaper in the District of Columbia, behind only The Washington Post
. It also serves as the newspaper of record for the University's archives.
The Hatchet, known as The University Hatchet in its early days, has been named the best non-daily student newspaper in the country by the Society of Professional Journalists many times over its long history.
The paper derives its name from the implement apocryphally used by George Washington
to chop down his family's cherry tree.
In 1993, the GW Hatchet was incorporated as an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit, and the paper has been editorially and financially independent of the University since then. It is run by a board of directors composed of Hatchet editors, former staff members, a GW student, a GW professor and professionals in the media industry. Daily operations are overseen by the full-time general manager & treasurer with assistance from the advertising manager. All other business and editorial positions are filled by current GW students and the editor in chief serves as the corporation's president. For many years, the University only charged the paper $1 in rent for their fully controlled townhouse in Washington, D.C. but has begun charging monthly rent at reduced rates as of 2006.
The GW Hatchet publishes 10,000 copies every Monday and Thursday throughout the school semesters and a special freshman orientation issue during the summer recess. In 1998, the Hatchet launched a website, www.gwhatchet.com, which has won many awards including a National Pacemaker Award in 2006 and 2010.
Over the course of The Hatchet's long history, the paper has broken many stories that have been picked up by national news organizations. Most recently, The Hatchet was the first news organization to cover election night 2008 celebrations around D.C. The paper also broke Former President Stephen Joel Trachtenberg's decision to retire, as well as the selection of current University President Steven Knapp.
The Hatchet office is located at the heart of the George Washington University campus on 22nd and G streets in Washington, D.C.
“To edit, print, publish, sell and distribute The Hatchet, the primary student newspaper of general interest and circulation at The George Washington University, or any successor publication and such other publications through print and other media as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine is appropriate, as an education and informational service independent of, but benefiting The George Washington University community;
“To provide, with the assistance of those with professional journalism and business experience, a practical and realistic educational experience for students and others who comprise the staff of the Corporation’s publications.”
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
. It also serves as the newspaper of record for the University's archives.
The Hatchet, known as The University Hatchet in its early days, has been named the best non-daily student newspaper in the country by the Society of Professional Journalists many times over its long history.
The paper derives its name from the implement apocryphally used by George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
to chop down his family's cherry tree.
In 1993, the GW Hatchet was incorporated as an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit, and the paper has been editorially and financially independent of the University since then. It is run by a board of directors composed of Hatchet editors, former staff members, a GW student, a GW professor and professionals in the media industry. Daily operations are overseen by the full-time general manager & treasurer with assistance from the advertising manager. All other business and editorial positions are filled by current GW students and the editor in chief serves as the corporation's president. For many years, the University only charged the paper $1 in rent for their fully controlled townhouse in Washington, D.C. but has begun charging monthly rent at reduced rates as of 2006.
The GW Hatchet publishes 10,000 copies every Monday and Thursday throughout the school semesters and a special freshman orientation issue during the summer recess. In 1998, the Hatchet launched a website, www.gwhatchet.com, which has won many awards including a National Pacemaker Award in 2006 and 2010.
Over the course of The Hatchet's long history, the paper has broken many stories that have been picked up by national news organizations. Most recently, The Hatchet was the first news organization to cover election night 2008 celebrations around D.C. The paper also broke Former President Stephen Joel Trachtenberg's decision to retire, as well as the selection of current University President Steven Knapp.
The Hatchet office is located at the heart of the George Washington University campus on 22nd and G streets in Washington, D.C.
Mission
The mission of The GW Hatchet is:“To edit, print, publish, sell and distribute The Hatchet, the primary student newspaper of general interest and circulation at The George Washington University, or any successor publication and such other publications through print and other media as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine is appropriate, as an education and informational service independent of, but benefiting The George Washington University community;
“To provide, with the assistance of those with professional journalism and business experience, a practical and realistic educational experience for students and others who comprise the staff of the Corporation’s publications.”
Awards
The Hatchet has won numerous journalism awards, including:- the Society of Professional Journalists' Mark of Excellence Award for Best All-Around Non-Daily Newspaper in the Nation in 2003, 2004 and 2007, and the award for Best All-Around Non-Daily Newspaper in the Region in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009.
- the Society of Professional Journalists' Regional Sports Photography Award (third place), Regional Editorial Writing award (first place), Regional Sports Writing Award (second place), and Regional Best Affiliated Web Site (first place) in 2010.
- the Society of Professional Journalists' national finalist for sports writing in 2009 (Regional first place winner), Regional Photo Illustration Award (third place), Regional Feature Writing Award (third place), Regional General Column Writing Award (first place), Regional Best Affiliated Website (second place), Regional Online Sports Reporting(second place) in 2009.
- the Society of Professional Journalists' Regional Breaking News Reporting Award (second and third place), Regional Sports Writing Award (first and third place), Regional Editorial Writing Award (third place), Regional General Column Writing (first and third place), Regional Breaking News Photography Award (second and third place), Regional Online News Reporting Award (third place), Regional Online Feature Reporting (first place), Regional Online Sports Reporting Award (first place), Regional Best Affiliated Web Site (second place) in 2008.
- the Society of Professional Journalists' National Finalist for Online Sports Reporting, and 18 Regional Awards in 2007.
- the Society of Professional Journalists' National Finalist for General News Reporting, and 19 Regional Awards in 2006.
- the Society of Professional Journalists' Mark of Excellence 13 regional awards in 2005.
- the Society of Professional Journalists' National Finalist for Feature Writing, Best All-Around Daily Newspaper in the Nation in 2004.
- the Society of Professional Journalists' Mark of Excellence 7 regional awards in 2002.
- the Society of Professional Journalists' National Finalist Online Spot News Reporting and 13 Regional Awards in 2001.
- the Associated Collegiate Press Newspaper Pacemaker Award in 2005, 2008 and 2011.
- the Associated Collegiate Press Newspaper Pacemaker Award finalist in 2005, 2007, 2008 and 2011.
- the Associated Collegiate Press Online Pacemaker Award in 2006, 2008 and 2010.
- the Associated Collegiate Press Online Pacemaker Award finalist in 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2010.
- the Associate Collegiate Press Individual Awards: 2 in 2010 and 1 in 2011.
- 15 SPJ Mark of Excellence regional awards, the most for any newspaper in the region, in 2009.
Notable alumni
Some notable Hatchet alumni include:- Diana Henriques, New York Times reporter and winner of the 2004 Polk Award
- L. Ron HubbardL. Ron HubbardLafayette Ronald Hubbard , better known as L. Ron Hubbard , was an American pulp fiction author and religious leader who founded the Church of Scientology...
, founder of ScientologyScientologyScientology is a body of beliefs and related practices created by science fiction and fantasy author L. Ron Hubbard , starting in 1952, as a successor to his earlier self-help system, Dianetics...
, was a Hatchet sports writer in the early 1930s - Deborah SolomonDeborah SolomonDeborah Solomon is an American art critic, journalist and biographer. She is best-known for her weekly column, "Questions For," which ran in The New York Times Magazine from 2003 to 2011.-Early life and education:...
, part of a Wall Street Journal team that won the 2002 Pulitzer PrizePulitzer PrizeThe Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...
in Explanatory Journalism - Mireya Navarro, part of a New York Times team that won the 2001 Pulitzer PrizePulitzer PrizeThe Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...
for National Reporting - Mark Olshaker, winner of a 1994 Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program and author of two New York Times bestsellers
- Mark Schleifstein, winner of the 2006 Pulitzer Prizes for Public Service and Breaking News Reporting and part of a New Orleans Times-Picayune team that won the 1997 Pulitzer PrizePulitzer PrizeThe Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...
for Public Service - Joye Brown and B.D. Colen, winners of the 1984 Pulitzer PrizePulitzer PrizeThe Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...
for Local Reporting at New York Newsday - Dick PolmanDick PolmanDick Polman is an American part-time national political columnist at the Philadelphia Inquirer and full-time Maury Povich "writer in residence" at the Center for Programs in Contemporary Writing, University of Pennsylvania....
, political columnist at The Philadelphia InquirerThe Philadelphia InquirerThe Philadelphia Inquirer is a morning daily newspaper that serves the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, metropolitan area of the United States. The newspaper was founded by John R. Walker and John Norvell in June 1829 as The Pennsylvania Inquirer and is the third-oldest surviving daily newspaper in the... - Anders Gyllenhaal, vice president, news and Washington editor for The McClatchy CompanyThe McClatchy CompanyThe McClatchy Company is a publicly traded American publishing company based in Sacramento, California. It operates 30 daily newspapers in 15 states and has an average weekday circulation of 2.2 million and Sunday circulation of 2.8 million...
and former chairman of the Pulitzer PrizePulitzer PrizeThe Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...
Board - David HoltDavid Holt (politician)David Holt is an American politician who serves as Oklahoma State Senator from the 30th district, which includes portions of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, The Village, Oklahoma, Bethany, Oklahoma, and Warr Acres, Oklahoma.-Personal life:...
, an Oklahoma State Senator, was Associate Sports Editor from 1999-2000 - Mosheh Oinounou, senior producer for CBS' "The Early Show" and former Bloomberg TV international desk editor
Past Editors in Chief
- 2011-2012: Lauren French
- 2010-2011: Lauren French
- 2009-2010: Alex Byers
- 2008-2009: Eric Roper
- 2007-2008: Jake Sherman
- 2006-2007: Caitlin Carroll
- 2005-2006: Michael Barnett
- 2004-2005: Brian Costa
- 2003-2004: Mosheh Oinounou
- 2002-2003: Kate Stepan