''The GW Hatchet'' is the

student newspaper A student publication is a media outlet such as a newspaper, magazine, television show, or radio station produced by students at an educational institution. These publications typically cover local and school-related news, but they may also rep ...

of the

George Washington University , mottoeng = "God is Our Trust" , established = , type = Private federally chartered research university , academic_affiliations = , endowment = $2.8 billion (2022) , presi ...

. Founded in 1904, The Hatchet is the second-oldest continuously-running newspaper in

Washington, DC ) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morg ...

, only behind ''

The Washington Post ''The Washington Post'' (also known as the ''Post'' and, informally, ''WaPo'') is an American daily newspaper published in Washington, D.C. It is the most widely circulated newspaper within the Washington metropolitan area and has a large n ...

''. The Hatchet is often ranked as one of the best college newspapers in the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country Continental United States, primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., ...

and has consistently won awards from the

Society of Professional Journalists The Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ), formerly known as Sigma Delta Chi, is the oldest organization representing journalists in the United States. It was established on April 17, 1909, at DePauw University,2009 SPJ Annual Report, letter ...

and from the

Associated Collegiate Press The Associated Collegiate Press (ACP) is the largest and oldest national membership organization for college student media in the United States. The ACP is a division of the National Scholastic Press Association. It awards the newspaper, mag ...

. Alumni of the GW Hatchet include numerous

Pulitzer Prize The Pulitzer Prize () is an award for achievements in newspaper, magazine, online journalism, literature, and musical composition within the United States. It was established in 1917 by provisions in the will of Joseph Pulitzer, who had made ...

winners,

Emmy Award The Emmy Awards, or Emmys, are an extensive range of awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international television industry. A number of annual Emmy Award ceremonies are held throughout the calendar year, each with the ...

winners, politicians,

news anchor A news presenter – also known as a newsreader, newscaster (short for "news broadcaster"), anchorman or anchorwoman, news anchor or simply an anchor – is a person who presents news during a news program on TV, radio or the Internet. ...

s, and editors of major publications.

History

The paper derives its name from the story of U.S. President

George Washington George Washington (February 22, 1732, 1799) was an American military officer, statesman, and Founding Father who served as the first president of the United States from 1789 to 1797. Appointed by the Continental Congress as commander of ...

(founding father of the university) involving his chopping down a

cherry tree A cherry is the fruit of many plants of the genus '' Prunus'', and is a fleshy drupe (stone fruit). Commercial cherries are obtained from cultivars of several species, such as the sweet '' Prunus avium'' and the sour ''Prunus cerasus''. Th ...

with a

hatchet A hatchet (from the Old French , a diminutive form of ''hache'', ' axe' of Germanic origin) is a single-handed striking tool with a sharp blade on one side used to cut and split wood, and a hammerhead on the other side. Hatchets may also be us ...

. The first edition of the GW Hatchet was published on 5 October 1904. 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 Editor-in-Chief. All business and editorial positions are filled by current GW students and the Editor-in-Chief serves as the corporation's president. In 1998, ''The Hatchet'' launched its website, which has won many awards including a

National Pacemaker Award The National Pacemaker Awards are awards for excellence in American student journalism, given annually since 1927. The awards are generally considered to be the highest national honors in their field, and are unofficially known as the "Pulitzer ...

in 2006 and 2010. For many years, the University only charged the paper $1 in rent for their fully controlled townhouse in Washington, D.C. but began charging monthly rent at reduced rates as of 2006. In 2012, ''The Hatchet'' moved out of the University owned townhouse at 2140 G St. NW and into their own building at 2148 F St. NW. In 2017, ''The Hatchet'' sold the building on F St. and began renting from the University again at 609 21st St. NW, known as Davis-Hodgkins House. In March 2015, the nonprofit real estate arm of ''The Hatchet'' sued the city of Washington, D.C. in D.C. Superior Court over a disputed property tax bill of $17,000, arguing that a request for a property tax exemption had been wrongfully denied (under D.C. law, schools, colleges and universities are exempt from property taxes). The city itself took the stance that neither ''The Hatchet'' nor its real estate arm qualify as educational organizations under D.C. law. As of December 2016 the lawsuit is still ongoing.

Organization

The newspaper is produced by Hatchet Publications, Inc., an independent,

501(c)(3) A 501(c)(3) organization is a United States corporation, trust, unincorporated association or other type of organization exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of Title 26 of the United States Code. It is one of the 29 types of ...

nonprofit corporation. The publication's

mission statement A mission statement is a short statement of why an organization exists, what its overall goal is, the goal of its operations: what kind of product or service it provides, its primary customers or market, and its geographical region of operatio ...

is "to follow, educate, and inform members of The George Washington University and Foggy Bottom communities." It also serves as the newspaper of record for the University's archives. ''The GW Hatchet'' publishes 2,500 copies every Monday throughout the school semesters and a special freshman orientation issue during the summer recess. All issues of ''The Hatchet'' are accessible through the Special Collections Research Center at the Estelle and Melvin Gelman Library, located at 2130 H Street NW, Washington, D.C.Guide to the GW Hatchet Records, 1904-2007
Special Collections Research Center, Estelle and Melvin Gelman Library, The George Washington University

Awards

''The Hatchet'' has won numerous journalism awards, including: *

Finalist for Best All-Around Non-Daily Student Newspaper in the Nation and National Finalist for General Photography in 2011 *

Mark of Excellence Award for Best All-Around Non-Daily Newspaper in the Nation in 2003, 2004 and 2007 *

Mark of Excellence Award for Best All-Around Non-Daily Newspaper in the Region in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, and 2021 *

Mark of Excellence Award for Spot News Reporting in 2003 *

Regional Editorial Writing Award (first place), Regional Feature Photography Award (first place), Regional General News Photography Award (first place), Regional Best Affiliated Web Site (first place), and Regional Online Sports Reporting Award (third place) in 2011 *

Regional Sports Photography Award (third place), Regional Editorial Writing Award (first place), Regional Sports Writing Award (second place) *

Regional Best Affiliated Web Site (first place) in 2010 *

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 *

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 *

National Finalist for Online Sports Reporting, and 18 Regional Awards in 2007 *

National Finalist for General News Reporting, and 19 Regional Awards in 2006 *

Mark of Excellence 13 regional awards in 2005 *

National Finalist for Feature Writing, Best All-Around Daily Newspaper in the Nation in 2004 *

Mark of Excellence 7 regional awards in 2002 *

National Finalist Online Spot News Reporting and 13 Regional Awards in 2001 *

National Newspaper Pacemaker Award The National Pacemaker Awards are awards for excellence in American student journalism, given annually since 1927. The awards are generally considered to be the highest national honors in their field, and are unofficially known as the "Pulitzer ...

in 2005, 2008 and 2011 *

finalist in 2005, 2007, 2008 and 2011 *

Online Pacemaker Award in 2006, 2008 and 2010 *

Online Pacemaker Award finalist in 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2010 *

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: * Deborah Solomon, part of a ''

Wall Street Journal ''The Wall Street Journal'' is an American business-focused, international daily newspaper based in New York City, with international editions also available in Chinese and Japanese. The ''Journal'', along with its Asian editions, is published ...

'' team that won the 2002

Pulitzer Prize for Explanatory Reporting The Pulitzer Prize for Explanatory Reporting has been presented since 1998, for a distinguished example of explanatory reporting that illuminates a significant and complex subject, demonstrating mastery of the subject, lucid writing and clear pr ...

* Mireya Navarro, part of a ''The New York Times'' team that won the 2001

Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting This Pulitzer Prize has been awarded since 1942 for a distinguished example of reporting on national affairs in the United States. In its first six years (1942–1947), it was called the Pulitzer Prize for Telegraphic Reporting – National. Li ...

* Anders Gyllenhaal, vice president, news and Washington editor for

The McClatchy Company The McClatchy Company, commonly referred to as simply McClatchy, is an American publishing company incorporated under Delaware's General Corporation Law and based in Sacramento, California. It operates 29 daily newspapers in fourteen states an ...

and former chairman of the

Board * Mark Schleifstein, winner of the 2006

Pulitzer Prize for Public Service The Pulitzer Prize for Public Service is one of the fourteen American Pulitzer Prizes annually awarded for journalism. It recognizes a distinguished example of meritorious public service by a newspaper or news site through the use of its journalis ...

and Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News Reporting and part of a New Orleans ''

Times-Picayune ''The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate'' is an American newspaper published in New Orleans, Louisiana, since January 25, 1837. The current publication is the result of the 2019 acquisition of ''The Times-Picayune'' (itself a result of th ...

'' team that won the 1997

Hadas Gold Hadas Gold (born February 25, 1988) is an American media and business reporter for CNN and CNN International based in Jerusalem. Biography Early life Gold was born to a Jewish family in Tel Aviv, Israel, the daughter of Daphna and Yoram Gold. H ...

, European politics, media and global business reporter for CNN * Diana B. Henriques, ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...

'' reporter and winner of the 2004 Polk Award * Joyce Brown and B.D. Colen, winners of the 1984 Pulitzer Prize for Local Reporting at ''

New York Newsday ''New York Newsday'' was an American daily newspaper that primarily served New York City and was sold throughout the New York metropolitan area. The paper, established in 1985, was a New York City-specific offshoot of '' Newsday'', a Long Isl ...

'' *

Mark Olshaker __notoc__ Mark Olshaker (born February 28, 1951) is an American author from Washington, D.C. who frequently collaborates with FBI agent John E. Douglas in writing books about criminal and investigative psychology. In 1995, they formed Mindhunters, ...

, winner of a 1994 Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program and author of two ''The New York Times'' bestsellers *

Dick Polman Dick Polman is a veteran national political columnist and the full-time "Writer in Residence" at the Center for Programs in Contemporary Writing, University of Pennsylvania. He has been on the full-time faculty since 2006. He currently writes abou ...

, political columnist at ''

The Philadelphia Inquirer ''The Philadelphia Inquirer'' is a daily newspaper headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The newspaper's circulation is the largest in both the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the Delaware Valley metropolitan region of Southeastern Pen ...

'' * David Holt, an Oklahoma State Senator and Mayor of Oklahoma City * Mosheh Oinounou, executive producer of CBSN; senior producer for CBS News' ''

CBS This Morning ''CBS This Morning'' (''CTM'') is an American morning television program that aired on CBS from November 30, 1987, to October 29, 1999, and again from January 9, 2012, to September 6, 2021. The program was aired from Monday through Saturday. ...

'' where he won a 2013 Emmy Award for Outstanding Investigative Journalism * Jake Sherman, Congressional correspondent for ''

Politico ''Politico'' (stylized in all caps), known originally as ''The Politico'', is an American, German-owned political journalism newspaper company based in Arlington County, Virginia, that covers politics and policy in the United States and intern ...

'' *

Jeremy Diamond Jeremy Diamond is an American journalist who works as the White House correspondent for CNN. Early life Diamond attended the French American School of New York from the age of three through his graduation from high school in 2011 where he ...

, CNN political reporter *

Reena Ninan Reena Ninan (born April 18, 1979) is an American television journalist, most recently working for CBS News, based in New York City. Career Ninan anchored CBSN, and was the anchor from 2016-2020, of the Saturday edition of the '' CBS Weekend New ...

, former anchor for

CBS News CBS News is the news division of the American television and radio service CBS. CBS News television programs include the '' CBS Evening News'', '' CBS Mornings'', news magazine programs '' CBS News Sunday Morning'', '' 60 Minutes'', and '' 4 ...

(

CBSN CBS News (formerly CBSN, also known as the CBS News Streaming Network) is an American streaming video news channel operated by the CBS News and Paramount Streaming divisions of Paramount Global. Launched on November 6, 2014, it features blocks ...

and Saturday edition of '' CBS Weekend News'') *

L. Ron Hubbard Lafayette Ronald Hubbard (March 13, 1911 – January 24, 1986) was an American author, primarily of science fiction and fantasy stories, who is best known for having founded the Church of Scientology. In 1950, Hubbard authored '' Dianetic ...

, founder of

Scientology Scientology is a set of beliefs and practices invented by American author L. Ron Hubbard, and an associated movement. It has been variously defined as a cult, a Scientology as a business, business, or a new religious movement. The most recent ...

References

External links

''GW Hatchet'' website''GW Hatchet'' TwitterGuide to the ''GW Hatchet'' Records, 1904-2007, Special Collections Research Center, Estelle and Melvin Gelman Library, The George Washington University
{{DEFAULTSORT:GW Hatchet Student newspapers published in Washington, D.C. Publications established in 1904