The GW Hatchet

The GW Hatchet

File:Hatchet cover II.jpg
Type	Student newspaper
Format	Broadsheet
Owner(s)	Hatchet Publications, Inc.
Editor-in-chief	Eric Roper
Founded	1904
Headquarters	2140 G Street N.W. Washington, D.C. 20052 United States
Website	www.gwhatchet.com

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 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 business 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 recently begun charging monthly rent at reduced rates.

The GW Hatchet publishes 12,000 copies every Monday and Thursday throughout the school semesters and several times during the summer recess. In 1998, the Hatchet launched a Web site, www.gwhatchet.com, which has won many awards including a National Pacemaker Award in 2006. From 2005 to 2007, the Hatchet published an annual dining and entertainment guide called the GW Insider.

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' "Best All-Around Non-Daily Newspaper in the Nation" award in 2003 & 2007
• the Associated Collegiate Press Online Pacemaker Award in 2006
• the Associated Collegiate Press Pacemaker Award in 2005 & 2007
• the Society of Professional Journalists' "Best All-Around Non-Daily Newspaper in the Region" award in 2004 and 2005

Notable Alumni

Some notable Hatchet alumni include:

• Diana Henriques, New York Times reporter and winner of the 2004 Polk Award
• L. Ron Hubbard, founder of Scientology, was a Hatchet sports writer in the early 1930's.
• Deborah Solomon, part of a Wall Street Journal team that won the 2002 Pulitzer Prize in Explanatory Journalism
• Mireya Navarro, part of a New York Times team that won the 2001 Pulitzer Prize 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, part of a New Orleans Times-Picayune team that won the 1996 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service
• Joye Brown and B.D. Colen, winners of the 1984 Pulitzer Prize for Local Reporting at New York Newsday

External links

• GW Hatchet website