VCU news

By Josh Skillman

Designers, artists, photographers and writers working through Virginia Commonwealth University’s Student Media Center recently earned 20 awards at the Associated Collegiate Press and College Media Association national fall convention.

Work from six VCU student organizations — Amendment, The Commonwealth Times, The Compass, Emanata, Ink and Pwatem — earned recognition at the nation’s largest gathering of collegiate journalists and media students. VCU students Jordan Kalafut, Jesse Anderson, Naomi Lilac Gordon and Andrew Kerley represented the SMC at the convention, held Oct. 29 to Nov. 2 in Atlanta.

Amendment, a progressive literature and art journal, earned the prestigious Pacemaker for the second year in a row in the category of literary arts magazine for four-year campuses. The Pacemaker recognizes the highest level in student journalism and is often referred to as the Pulitzer Prize of college journalism.

“The Pacemaker is really selective — only nine magazines in the country earned one this year, so for Amendment to earn two in a row is a huge testament to the quality and consistency of students’ work on that journal,” said Jessica Clary, Amendment’s staff adviser and director of the SMC. “The Amendment team is diverse, and their dedication to their theme of ‘social progression through artistic expression’ since the first issue of Amendment in 2005 really sets it apart from other college literary journals.”

Jordan Kalafut, Amendment’s social media editor and Emanata’s communications director, was confident but nervous as awards were being revealed.

“I was incredibly relieved when the announcer finally called for Amendment and was ecstatic as Jesse and I went up to receive the award,” Kalafut said. “We worked so hard on this issue, and I am so glad that we were recognized for our efforts.”

Additionally, students producing content – in page design, comics, illustrations, reporting, photography, web design and advertising – for Amendment, The Commonwealth Times, The Compass, Emanata, Pwatem and Ink were honored with five Associated Collegiate Press awards, four Associated Collegiate Press Best of Show awards, seven College Media Association Pinnacle Awards for Design and three College Media Association Pinnacle Awards for Advertising.

“VCU doesn’t just have one or two exceptional student publications. We have nine, and they are consistently recognized in national competitions with other college student publications,” Clary said. “The diversity and variety of publications, unified and collaborating through the SMC, is a direct reflection of VCU’s incredibly diverse students. It’s definitely something to brag about.”

The full list of recent honorees can be found on the Division of Student Affairs blog.