Based in Sterling, VA, Electric Heart pulls at the strings of music lovers everywhere. The duo consists of Padi Goudarzi and Sean Ghosh, two childhood friends who mix soul, folk, alternative, and indie into their own distinct genre.

Almost a capella, Ghosh adds to the soulful vocals by switching it up with some raspy guitar, wispy and acoustic at its finest. Much of their music is rooted in optimism, very much alike the works of local artists Cinema Hearts and Nemes. Sometimes a guitar and a voice or two is all you need, and they show listeners the endless possibilities of music, simplified and amplified. Electric Heart duets with passionate melodies, wagging instrumentals, and a la-dee-da energy that goes beyond the typical Kumbaya vibes.

Electric Heart will be playing their first-ever Mason gig at Student Media’s Journal Jam, on Thursday, April 6th at 7:00pm in the JC Bistro. Saxophonist Devin Beard will be sitting in on the live set.

Click here to learn more about Journal Jam 2017.

WGMU’s own Jackie Reed, host of Jammin’ with Jackie (Mondays & Wednesdays at noon), interviewed Electric Heart to learn more about the duo’s origins, musical style, and what excites them most about Journal Jam 2017. Listen to full audio of Jackie’s interview and a few original tracks online at www.wgmuradio.com.

Follow Electric Heart on Facebook for news, updates, and upcoming performances. Check out their brand new Be Alive EP (2017) on Spotify, iTunes, and Bandcamp.

After many months of planning and anticipation, Mason Cable News was thrilled to debut a brand new set last Wednesday, February 22 during their weekly MCNews live broadcast. The set was was created by Leonard Orange from Richmond, VA who is a history teacher at Hermitage High School and director of Herm TV. Prior to becoming a history teacher, Orange worked at a local news station in Richmond, VA and has a background in media production and set design.

MCNews Director Airelle Thornhill spearheaded the set redesign project and had this to say upon the successful completion: “This set was a year-long passion project, and we’re excited for the new advancements and opportunities this will provide the Mason Cable Network and the Mason Cable News family.”

Check out new episodes from Mason Cable Network online: www.youtube.com/masoncablenetwork

 

Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe welcomed college journalists from across the Commonwealth to a luncheon at the Executive Mansion in Richmond on Wednesday, February 1st.

Junior Fareeha Rehman (President, Society of Professional Journalists) and Senior Lottye Lockhart (PR Coordinator, Student Media) represented Mason alongside peers from other Virginia colleges and universities.

During the three-course lunch that included lamb chops with polenta circles and opera cake, Governor McAuliffe discussed the future of Virginia’s economy and education and his thoughts on the job market for current college students. His goal, he said, is to get a STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) book into the hands of every elementary school age Virginian.

Offering some advice on post-graduation jobs for college students and Virginia’s youth, McAuliffe said that he could not imagine doing something he did not love, and that high paying jobs in technology — especially cyber security — are readily available in the Commonwealth.

A portal has been created to provide easier access to tech job openings: cyberjobs.virginia.gov

McAuliffe also spoke with the student journalists about recent political events, specifically the controversial executive order that bans entry to the United States from seven majority-Muslim nations and indefinitely suspends America’s acceptance of refugees from war-torn Syria. Rehman was able to share her own family’s experiences with religious discrimination, including the story of her father being unjustly held at a border checkpoint 10 years ago when anti-Muslim sentiments flared in the wake of 9/11.

The Governor, who recently added Virginia to the list of states challenging President Trump’s executive order in the courts, reiterated his firm belief that the ban is unconstitutional: “We defeated one monarchy 236 years ago, and we sure as heck ain’t going to create another one!”

On Friday, December 9th, Student Media hosted Happy Birthday, George! in SUB I’s Patriot’s Lounge and welcomed over 200 faculty, staff, students, and community members to share in the fun. The celebration included birthday cake, music, activities, raffle prizes, a giant birthday card, and special guests Dr. Angel Cabrera, Doc Nix, the Green Machine, G-Men, and George Mason himself!

Click here to watch a short video of the festivities.

This fun and educational event was held to honor our university namesake’s legacy and ideas, which include 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.

For many years we have invited the Mason community to help us celebrate our namesake’s special day, but we realized an important goal this year by making 2016 George’s biggest birthday bash to date!

Special thanks to Nicole Morton, Rebecca Martin, and Lacey Villiva from Gunston Hall for donating some awesome prizes and providing historical actors Don McAndrews (George Mason) and Janis Harless (George’s eldest daughter, Nancy Mason) who added a historical flair to our celebration. Gunston Hall (George Mason’s homestead built in the 1750s) is open for public tours every day of the week except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. Click here for more information and plan your own visit to historic Gunston Hall.

Our deep gratitude also extends to Doc Nix and Dr. Angel Cabrera for speaking at the event. Additionally, Dr. Cabrera was generous enough to donate his time so we could raffle off “Lunch with the President” to four lucky students.

Also a big thank you to the Green Machine’s Fife and Drum Corps. director Shane Nickels and Funk Band director Bobby Lacy II.

Sponsors who donated prizes include: Gunston Hall, Room Escape DC, Peet’s Coffee & Tea, WingZone, University Mall Theatres, Mason Recreation, Mason Athletics, Student Involvement, Off-Campus Programs, LEAD Office, University Bookstore, Patriot Computers, and University Life.

Tim Kaine and his wife, Anne Holton, chose Mason as the place to rally voters one last time in his state of Virginia on the eve of this historic election. Vice President Joe Biden and his wife, Dr. Jill Biden, joined the Kaine’s on their visit to Mason’s Fairfax campus. The Democratic vice presidential candidate delivered a strong speech, as did Vice President Biden, affirming their belief that Hillary Clinton is the best choice for America’s future and highlighting the importance of Virginia in the presidential race.

People started lining up in the cold three hours before the doors opened. Dozens of people were not able to make it in. Although this event was not sponsored by Mason, the line appeared to be made up of a great number of students. The supporters we met – mostly registered democrats – were all very excited to see Tim Kaine and Joe Biden speak “live.”

In a speech focusing on unity and respect, Joe Biden took a realistic stance, stressing “the hard truths that this election tells about our country.”

Tim Kaine started off saying how glad he was to be at George Mason to finish his campaign. “Anything I am good at, you all have taught me,” he told his fellow Virginians.

Read the full story: www.masonvotes.gmu.edu

In a last-minute effort to turn Northern Virginia red, Indiana Governor and Republican vice presidential candidate Mike Pence gave a unifying speech to hundreds of supporters gathered in the Hub Ballroom on Mason’s Fairfax campus this past Saturday. Pence spoke for about an hour to a cheerful and reactive audience, tackling the main points of Donald Trump’s platform – security, jobs, immigration and the Supreme Court.

In an effort to shore up the support of those long-time Republicans that have begun to defect in recent weeks, the Governor concluded his remarks saying he’d “like to speak to [his] fellow Republicans and tell them it’s time to come home.”

Pence’s appearance drew a group of protestors holding signs reading “My Body, My Choice,” “Build Bridges, Not Walls,” and the now-famous Clinton refrain, “Love Trumps Hate” outside The Hub.

Read the full story: www.masonvotes.gmu.edu

Martin O’Malley, former Governor of Maryland, and Mark McKinnon, co-creator of Showtime’s The Circus, both delivered keynote speeches at the Political & Policy Communication Forum on Tuesday, October 25th in Dewberry Hall. Sponsored by the Department of Communication’s Insight Committee, the annual forum’s focus this year was “impact, ethics, and the art of persuasion.”

Since we are in the final days of a heated presidential campaign, the forum’s speakers and panelists explored the topic of political communication with the goal of engaging students in a conversation about the credibility of presidential candidates, the challenges of fact-checking, false equivalencies in journalism, and the ways voters can empower themselves to make informed decisions despite the many distractions of this election cycle. The interactive forum provided future communicators with the necessary tools to succeed along their chosen career path.

Read more at www.wgmuradio.com

George Mason University’s Fall 2016 Career Fair was held October 5th and 6th, bringing over 100 employers and recruiters to the Fairfax campus each day. These employers are looking for the best and brightest that Mason has to offer, and the students who attend try their best to make a good impression. But many students are new to the professional world and may not be aware of the specific things that employers look for when evaluating potential hires.

Rodger Smith’s COMM 148 (Radio Workshop I) students interviewed employers who were recruiting at this semester’s Career Fair to get the inside scoop on successful strategies that can help you stand out from the competition and land a job. Listen to the brief interviews below for tips and tricks on everything from resumes (keep it simple), appearance (dress for the job you want), eye contact (coveys strength and focus), preparation (research the company in advance), and the all-important first handshake (firm and confident).

Khafre Barclift interviews Dennis Favilla of Sheehy:

Rodger Smith interviews Beth Wright of Enterprise:

Zach Hamilton interviews Emma Rutka (2012 alumna, Interpersonal Communication) of PenFed:

Rosemary Idisi interviews John Taber of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission:

George Mason University has partnered with Strengths Academy and made the StrengthsFinder Assessment available for FREE to all Mason Students! This assessment allows students to gain greater insight into their natural talents and strengths with the goal of improved academic, personal, and professional outcomes.

According to the Mason’s website, “The vision of the Strengths Academy is to create and sustain a culture of strengths across the university. For the past 10 years, thousands of Mason students, faculty and staff have completed the Gallup Organization’s StrengthsFinder assessment.”

On Friday, September 30th, Student Media’s leaders, staff, volunteers, contributors, and faculty advisors gathered to explore their strengths together in a fun and interactive workshop coordinated by the Leadership Education and Development (LEAD) office.

Participants learned the role their top strengths play in shaping their lives and personalities, as well as how to maximize their impact as a student and a leader by applying their strengths in productive ways. The workshop emphasized connecting with others, building personal talents, and finding success by understanding your strengths and those of your peers.

Special thank you to all those who attended and the LEAD Team, Jenn Robinson, and Rashaan Mateen for facilitating the workshop!

Do you know your Strengths? Click here to take the Gallup assessment.