Whether you’re a word wizard, a proofreading professional or a layout legend, this guide will help you find which Georgetown student publication is right for you!
GEORGETOWN—Even before arriving at Georgetown, I knew I wanted to join a student publication. English was my favorite subject in high school, and I wanted to keep my writing skills sharp while learning from creative and hardworking individuals—and that’s exactly happened! While working for the student newspaper, I engaged with different forms of journalism, received critical feedback from an experienced faculty advisor, and met some of my best friends. Plus, I got to read my name in print on a weekly basis Trust me, the thrill never goes away!
Not a writer? Not a problem!
At Georgetown, students lead all aspects of the publication process. If you love snapping pictures, join the photography team! If you are constantly correcting your friends’ grammar, consider joining the copy team! Or, if you are great with money, consider joining a publication’s business department.
Contributing to a student publication does not have to be a huge time commitment, either! The publications on this list offer varying degrees of participation. The more artsy publications accept rolling submissions, while the politically-oriented publications will most likely ask you to adhere to deadlines. Keep reading to find which student publication is right for you!
The Hoya is the oldest and largest student-run publication at Georgetown University. It has a staff of over 200 students and a circulation of 4,000 copies across campus and throughout the surrounding neighborhood. It was my student publication of choice while at Georgetown and was an instrumental component of my college experience. Before joining The Hoya, I had never considered a career in journalism, but the support I received from my colleagues and mentors led me to leave the business school and pursue writing professionally.
The Hoya is a newspaper, meaning its content is comprehensive and wide-ranging. Students cover everything from city news, campus events, sports and culture. The Hoya even has a humorous blog called The Fourth Edition. Students also design the cover art, graphics and page layouts. Being a student journalist has its perks! Insider tip: many student reporters, journalists and videographers are able to attend sports games, movie screenings and concerts for free!
Though I could continue to praise The Hoya, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention a few potential drawbacksFor one, there is an application; however, The Hoya accepts applications in the fall and spring, so if you’re not accepted right away, don’t give up! The staff is usually willing to offer friendly advice and answer questions about the application process. Another drawback is the time commitment. For the most part, staff writers can write as much or as little content as they wish, though most sections require at least two articles per semester. However, leadership positions are extremely time-intensive, so be prepared to spend 15-30 hours in the office, depending on your role. On the flip side, semester turnovers allow many opportunities for advancement, so odds are if you’re willing to put in the time, you will reap the rewards.
Georgetown’s newsmagazine, the Voice, has quite the history. It was founded in 1969 when former Hoya staffers objected to the newspaper’s refusal to cover off-campus events, specifically The Vietnam War. Since then, The Hoya and the Voice have maintained a (mostly) friendly rivalry. In terms of content, the publications are fairly similar; like The Hoya, the Voice features reviews, editorials, opinion pieces and student life articles. Unlike The Hoya, however, the Voice has podcast opportunities for students who might not want to put a pen to paper.
The Voice does not have an application process, and interested students are encouraged to join at any point in the year. Additionally, Voice leadership is not limited to a select few. According to their website, there’s a total of nine leadership positions that oversee the section editors: seven executive editors, an editor-in-chief, and a managing editor. These section editors come not from the top down, but from the bottom up; senior writers and editorial assistants help determine leadership. Additionally, the Voice may also have fewer expectations for its staffers than The Hoya does, meaning that your level of commitment is largely up to you!
The Anthem is a bi-annual literary arts magazine dedicated to uplifting community writers. Unlike other publications, which tend to only publish student work, The Anthem also accepts submissions from alumni and faculty. Rather than simply rejecting submissions, The Anthem takes the time to work with each writer to “bring each piece closer to publication,” making it a great resource for creative students looking to get more feedback on their poetry or short stories!
The Anthem does not have an application and encourages interested students to join them for their weekly meetings, during which they review all weekly submissions. The Anthem does not have a firm leadership structure. Students work together to develop submissions and decide which pieces are published in each issue.
Founded in 2018, On the Record is Georgetown’s newest student-run publication. It operates out of GU Politics, a branch of the McCourt School of Public Policy that aims to ignite young people’s passion for politics. On the Record recruits students, professors and the GU Politics Fellows to offer their perspectives on current political issues and campus events. They also have a podcast, Fly on the Wall, where they interview influential political figures. Past guests include Ashley Allison, a White House employee under Barack Obama, and Mo Elleithee, the Executive Director of GU Politics and former Communications Director of the Democratic National Committee.
On the Record highlights voices from all perspectives on the political spectrum. Students, who serve as guest contributors, are expected to write at least two articles per semester. Another option is to be a staff writer, and write (an article?) approximately every two weeks. If neither option suits you, On the Record invites you to describe your dream role to them!
If you’re interested in Georgetown’s campus life, check out: Greek Life at Georgetown University.
Bossier is a submission-based magazine on a mission to empower women “through the sharing of their personal experiences and creative work.” Bossier is not a journalistic publication in the traditional sense– it’s not concerned with objectivity. Instead, Bossier brims with original poems, art pieces, personal essays and short stories. At Bossier, an individual’s unique voice and story are celebrated. It only prints twice each year, but you can peruse all its past issues online here.
Because Bossier curates their content, the easiest way to get involved is simply to submit your art! According to their submissions page, they accept reviews, essays, photographs, art, poems – anything that represents your creative self! Bossier is assembled by the endearingly named “Dumplings” and “B Team.” If you’re not an artist but still want to get involved, send an email to bossier.mag@gmail.com.
The Caravel may have only been around since 2014, but with a staff of over 100 students, it has quickly grown into one of Georgetown’s larger publications. The Caravel has a threefold mission “to highlight under-reported news, to enhance cross-cultural understanding, and to foster regional specialization.” Its name comes from its desire to highlight systems of oppression that serve as barriers to peace. Thus, The Caravel is as much an arbiter of campus and societal change as it is a journalistic publication.
The Caravel has three divisions — Editorial, Executive and Digital. Apart from writing, entry-level staffers can assist with information technology, marketing, finance, design, digital media and photography. The Caravel hires in both the fall and spring, so keep your eyes peeled for new opportunities!
