Student Media staff were thrilled to hear a familiar name when this year’s winners of the Pulitzer Prize were announced in mid-April: former Broadside Photo Editor Thomas LeGro!

Congratulations to Tom on this amazing career achievement!
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From the Mason Newsdesk:

“Thomas (Tom) LeGro, BA English ’98, MFA Creative Writing ’01, didn’t necessarily plan a path into journalism.

But his passion for writing and creating eventually led him to The Washington Post, where he is a senior producer for video. LeGro was part of The Washington Post’s team that revealed U.S. Senate candidate Roy Moore’s alleged past sexual harassment of teenage girls and the subsequent efforts to undermine the reporting that exposed it.

The team won a Pulitzer Prize for investigative journalism for their combined text and video entry, which included video of a confrontation between Post journalists and a false accuser working for Project Veritas.

During his undergraduate years, LeGro worked as a photo editor for the Broadside, the predecessor to Mason’s Fourth Estate student newspaper, where he enjoyed the newsroom camaraderie and introduction to the world of journalism.”

Read the full article on Mason’s homepage: gmu.edu/news/512146

Volition, Mason’s undergraduate literary and arts journal, recently partnered with House Studios, a Grammy Award-winning multimedia company, to host a very special Open Mic Night to showcase the talents of Mason students and promote the arts scene on campus. Billed as a “music industry night,” the event offered students a chance to perform for recording professionals and appreciate the creativity of their fellow Patriots.

Over 130 attendees and performers turned out on Thursday, March 8th, for an evening of live performances including original music, poetry, spoken word, rap, a cappella, and standup comedy in the Johnson Center Bistro. In addition to a diverse set of Mason performers, three artists signed to the House label — Mannywellz, Luke James Shaffer, and Sydney Franklin — performed songs from their current albums. Listen to WGMU Radio’s exclusive in-studio interviews with Manny and Luke over at www.wgmuradio.com.

Volition has been a showcase for emerging artists for over 20 years and currently publishes a print issue featuring original creative work submitted by Mason students every semester (click here to read the most recent issue). As a living complement to their print work, Volition hosts two Open Mic Nights per semester that provide a platform for students with aspirations in the performing arts to share their creations and experience the works of other artists.

Special thank you to Daniel Strauch and Jake Grotticelli from House Studios for helping make this event possible! Many thanks also to Mannywellz, Luke James Shaffer, and Sydney Franklin for sharing their time and talents with the Mason community.

Check back for more Volition Open Mic Night events in Fall 2018!

On Friday, December 8th, Student Media hosted Happy Birthday, George! in Patriot’s Lounge (SUB I) and welcomed over 200 faculty, staff, students, and community members to celebrate #292YearsofGeorge. The party included birthday cake, music, activities, some amazing raffle prizes, a giant birthday card, and special guests the Green Machine, the G-Men, the Mason Patriot, and George Mason himself!

This annual event provides a chance for the Mason community to honor our university namesake’s legacy and ideas, including the drafting of the Virginia Declaration of Rights — one of the documents upon which the U.S. Constitution was based. George Mason is known to history as the Father of the Bill of Rights, and his contributions to democracy helped secure the five freedoms guaranteed to all Americans under the First Amendment. The very freedoms that George Mason fought for so passionately are critical to the work of Student Media today, including the freedom of speech and of the press.

Of George Mason’s vital contributions to democracy, fellow Virginian and founding father Thomas Jefferson had this to say: “The fact is unquestionable, that the Bill of Rights, and the Constitution of Virginia, were drawn originally by George Mason, one of our greatest men, and of the first order of greatness.” (1825)

This year’s celebration was a great success, and Student Media would like to thank everyone who attended and supported our event. A big thank you to Student Media students and staff, Don McAndrews, Janis Harless, Bobby Lacy, the G-Men, the Mason Patriot, Willy Frasier, and Aaron Grossman.

Sponsors who donated prizes include: Buffalo Wild Wings, Tyson’s Biergarten, Room Escape Fairfax, Muse Paintbar, CorePower Yoga, Yard House, Shear Madness, Gunston Hall, Wing Zone, Parking Services, Mason Recreation, University Mall Theatres, Dave & Buster’s, Alexandria Waterfront, Housing & Residence Life, and University Life.

Join Student Media and the Society of Professional Journalists help local children in need by donating toys, books, gift cards, electronics, and personal care items from November 15th to December 5th.

Donation boxes are located in Student Media (The Hub 1201), Patriot’s Lounge (SUB I), and the Johnson Center Atrium.

Please note that all items MUST be brand new. Please refrain from gift wrapping donations.

Click here for a list of things that are currently needed at the hospital. These items provide comfort, security and happiness to patients during their stay.

Email [email protected] with questions.

Thank you for your generosity during this holiday season!

Chris Matthews, former presidential speechwriter, congressional chief of staff, and longtime host of MSNBC’s Hardball, delivered the keynote address at the 2017 Insight Forum on Tuesday, October 24th in The Hub Ballroom. Matthews spoke about the need for an educated public that can tell the difference between “fake news” and serious journalism, offering advice and insights from his own career to the student audience.

Sponsored by the Department of Communication Insight Committee, the annual forum’s focus this year was “#RealNews2017: gathering, dispensing, and presenting news in today’s social-mediated world.”

After a brief welcome and introduction from Provost David Wu and Interim Dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS), Robert Matz, Matthews kicked off the event with a quote from Thomas Jefferson:

“Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter. But I should mean that every man should receive those papers and be capable of reading them (1787).”

The important part, he stressed, is the second idea — that citizens must be “capable” of understanding the news in order to maintain a thriving democracy. Jefferson indicates that the role of a free press (and the people’s access to it) is potentially more important than government itself, but unless the public is able to tell fact from fiction it is meaningless.

So what to do in the age of “fake news”? Stay informed. Read newspapers. Do your own research utilizing reputable sources. Be skeptical, but know that facts are not open to dispute. Learn the difference between propaganda (that is designed to deceive) and news (that is designed to inform). Take in diverse points of view from serious journalists with a reputation for accuracy. Challenge yourself to seek out objective information outside the partisan echo chambers of social media — even if you disagree with it.

But most importantly, don’t become complacent. For you, as a news consumer and American citizen, have the right to demand excellence from the fourth estate and should settle for nothing less than the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

Please join Student Media in welcoming Igor Stojanov, a visiting fellow from Macedonia, to the Mason community! Igor is currently participating in the Macedonia Media Leaders Program (MMLP), a professional development program for Macedonian journalists and media professionals that helps place them with host institutions in the United States in partnership with IREX (International Research & Exchanges Board). IREX works closely with the U.S. Department of State and is an international nonprofit organization “providing thought leadership and innovative programs to promote positive lasting change globally.”

Igor joined Student Media in early August and brings with him over ten years of work experience in Macedonia’s media sector. At his home institution, University of Stip, Igor serves as the editor-in-chief of radio and television, oversees the University’s websites, and provides professional photography services for the University. Igor is also a lecturer for journalism and public relations courses and directs the University of Stip’s student media programs.

Concurrently he is the Founder and Coordinator of the NGO OPENN, reporting on investigative news in Macedonia. Previously, he founded the youth online media platform, Balkan Youth Newsroom, and led 25 young journalists to create the online media site www.youthnewsroom.net. Additionally, he coordinated a project that involved hosting 15 public radio debates between youth and their authorities.

Igor has his Master’s Degree in Media and Communications and is a passionate journalist with an interest in community and science reporting. During his MMLP fellowship at Student Media, he hopes to gain experience in investigative, community and science journalism while working directly with aspiring and experienced journalists.

As part of his work at Mason, Igor has started a new podcast called The Megaphone to learn what motivates young journalists. Listen to full episodes at wgmuradio.com.

Student Media would like to congratulate Ashley Whimpey, creator and host of Mason Cable Network’s And A Kitchen Sink, for winning the Betty Endicott NATAS-NCCB Chapter Student Scholarship at the 59th Annual Capital Emmy® Awards Gala. Ashley was honored for her student broadcast work with MCN and presented with a $5,000 check by NBC4 anchor Leon Harris during the live, televised ceremony held on Saturday, June 24th in Bethesda, MD.

“Thank you so much! It’s awesome to see [my idea for a show] turn into something…and here I am!”

Ashley has hosted four seasons of her popular MCN show that the network describes as a “quick, witty, fact show that’ll leave your head spinning!” Each episode features a stream-of-consciousness series of facts and trivia, with every topic organically leading to the next before finally connecting back to the opening factoid at the show’s conclusion. Want to find out how the Queen of England is somehow related to Swiss cheese and how Swiss cheese is somehow related to power outlets? Click here to watch full episodes of And A Kitchen Sink on MCN’s YouTube page.

The National Capital Chesapeake Bay Chapter (NATAS-NCCB) of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences is a non-profit organization that awards a regional scholarship each year in honor of Betty Endicott, the first female news director in Washington, D.C. Any full-time undergraduate or graduate student pursuing a degree in communication or broadcast journalism is eligible to apply for the scholarship, provided that they have at least a 3.0 GPA and are enrolled in a Maryland, Virginia, or Washington, D.C. institution. Nominations for next year’s award open in January.

Welcome to Mason, Class of 2021! Student Media is proud to present the latest issue of Freshman Focus, the only campus magazine for freshmen, by freshmen. This unique publication is packed with first-person stories from last year’s freshman class, as well as tips and tricks for adjusting to your new life at Mason. Our goal is to help you make the most of your first year at college, so hopefully you (and your family) will enjoy learning about all the exciting opportunities available to you as a Mason Patriot.

Here is a brief excerpt from Freshman Focus Editor-in-Chief, Albert J. Blomberg’s welcome letter to the incoming freshman class:

“You are getting ready to embark on one of the most exciting and eventful chapters in your life. Here you will have the opportunity to meet new friends from across the world and immerse yourself in all that the campus and surrounding area has to offer. Right now you may feel uneasy during this transition, but trust me you will soon feel at home. We hope that Freshman Focus can help ease your worries and provide a smooth transition to your new chapter here at Mason.”

All incoming freshmen will receive a copy during Summer Orientation sessions. If you would like to request additional print copies, please email [email protected]

Click here to read the 2017 issue of Freshman Focus online.

Mason was honored to welcome former Vice President Joe Biden and Netflix actress Alisha Boe (13 Reasons Why) to the Fairfax campus on Wednesday, April 26th as the keynote speakers of the It’s On Us Rally. The event capped off a string of events at Mason recognizing Sexual Assault Awareness Month and was hosted by It’s On Us, a campaign to combat sexual violence on college campuses.

Student Media was on hand to cover the event with photo, video, and news coverage that included a student-produced live stream and representatives from Fourth Estate, PR & Design Team, Mason Cable Network, and WGMU Radio. Student Media’s video feed was picked up by several national news outlets, including CNN, Fox News, WDCW, Buzzfeed, People Magazine online, and others.

A longtime advocate against sexual violence and discrimination, Biden introduced the Violence Against Women Act in 1990 as a Senator from Delaware and launched the #ItsOnUs campaign with then-President Barack Obama in 2014 to raise awareness of the ongoing threats facing young American women. Estimates vary, but nearly 1 in 5 women is sexually assaulted before leaving college, according to data from the U.S. Department of Justice.

Mason President Angel Cabrera highlighted that statistic by focusing the crowd on compassion for the victims: “I don’t care about the five, the six, or the seven, I care about the one!”

In a fiery and blunt speech to the crowd, Biden called on everyone to take responsibility for this issue and recognize that it is indeed “On Us” to make the necessary cultural, attitudinal, and institutional changes needed to reverse the alarming levels of sexual violence plaguing colleges and universities across America.

Perhaps Biden’s most memorable moment was when the former Vice President spoke with deep conviction and flashes of anger about the necessity of obtaining affirmative consent before engaging in sexual activity: “Guys, a woman who’s dead drunk cannot consent. You are raping her. I really mean this, we’ve got to talk about this. Consent requires affirmative consent.”

George Mason University has made strides in this area in recent years, introducing a 24-hour crisis hotline, forming a task force to examine existing processes and resources, increasing counseling opportunities for victims, and pledging to make the eradication of sexual violence a top institutional priority.

You can take Mason’s pledge to end sexual assault via University Life’s website: ulife.gmu.edu/pledges

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Check out MCN’s video coverage above and read WGMU Radio’s Jackie Reed’s article online: wgmuradio.com/2017/04/27/former-vp-joe-biden-leads-its-on-us-campaign-at-mason

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Student Media hosted the 2nd Annual Journal Jam on Thursday, April 6, in the Johnson Center Bistro. Building on the success of last year’s gathering, we welcomed over 75 students, staff, and faculty members to help us celebrate the work of our five outstanding student-run literary journals that showcase the best in creativity and scholarship Mason has to offer.

Attendees enjoyed live music and refreshments and heard brief presentations from writers, researchers, poets, and artists whose work has been selected for publication in 2017.

The night’s entertainment came courtesy of Mason student Padi Nejad’s up-and-coming local band, Electric Heart, who played their first gig at Mason and brought down the house with their soulful music. Click here to read WGMU DJ Jackie Reed’s (host of Jammin’ with Jackie, Mondays and Wednesdays, 12pm) interview with Electric Heart.

Special thanks to vocalist Padi Nejad, guitartist Sean Ghosh, and saxophonist Devin Beard for lending their talents to our event!

Student Media’s literary journals (1: Volition; 2: The George Mason Review; 3: Phoebe; 4: So to Speak, and 5: Hispanic Culture Review) have been publishing continuously since 1971, providing a platform for Mason students to share their original work across a variety of disciplines with the world. Entirely student-run, these literary journals provide a showcase for original scholarly and creative work by students outside the classroom and provide the Mason community with new ideas and perspectives.

Thank you to everyone who helped make Journal Jam 2017 a success!