About the Student Media Center
The VCU Student Media Center, part of the Division of Student Affairs, supports eight student-run media outlets serving the VCU community and keeping students, faculty, staff, alumni and the entire VCU community informed, engaged and entertained. Student media organizations active in the 2025-2026 academic year were:
Amendment, a literary and arts journal focused on social progress
Annum Arcanum, a genre fiction journal and our newest student media publication
The Commonwealth Times student newspaper and student news website
Emanata, a student comics anthology
Ink Magazine, an arts and culture magazine
Pwatem, an undergraduate literary and arts magazine
River City Fashion, a student-led fashion magazine
WVCW Radio online
“ Student Media helped me so much
to practice
my
degree before graduating.
I feel
like
I
learned more working with the SMC than
I
did in most of
my classes. “
Involvement
• 675 students published and on the air, producing
• 2,456 individual articles, illustrations, comics, photos and more.
• 1,057 additional students attending SMC or student media org workshops and events
• 224 students interviewed for The Commonwealth Times
• 2,667 students in one or more of the SMC RamsConnect groups
25-26 SMC Student
Publications and programming
28 weekly print issues of the ACP Natioal Newspaper Pacemaker Award-winning Commonwealth Times in print, plus weekly online updates, including 1,218 articles, infographics, illustrations, comics and photos by 168 student contributors and editors. Print issues had a 68% average pickup rate.
Two print issues of the Pinnacle Award-winning Ink Magazine plus 14 online articles featuring the work of 56 student contributors and editors.
The Pacemaker Award-winning Amendment magazine, fiction, non-fiction, poetry and art by 16 students representing 10 different majors and programs included.
The SPJ Award-winning Emanata comics journal, with 57 students’ work included, representing 16 majors and programs.
The College Media Association Apple Award-winning Pwatem literary and art journal, and its fall chapbook Rabble, featuring poetry, prose and art from 46 students representing 14 majors and programs.
More than 600 hours of live radio hosted by student DJs and guests, plus 34 live men’s and women’s basketball games (including live coverage from the A-10 and NCAA men’s basketball tournaments).
New Home Invasion performances by White Beast and Shagg Carpet, and an interview with Saoirse Dream for WVCW’s YouTube page.
The third issue of the Associated Collegiate Press award-winning Annum Arcanum journal featuring the work of 14 students representing six majors and programs.
The third issue of the SPJ and ACP award-winning River City Fashion magazine featuring the work of 36 students representing 15 majors and programs.
The (still) extremely popular Bagel Weneday and Pizza Friday events, workshops and collaborations with student organizations and academic departments.
Advertising and community service
Advertising sales this year: $36,495.29
National clients: $17,005.17 (Amtrak, Google Gemini and more)
Local clients: $6,499.28 (Byrd Theatre, Sweet Spot, Buffalo Exchange, Venture Richmond and more)
Local trade-in-kind value $13,813.00 (Nate’s Bagels, Mellow Mushroom)
VCU departments and divisions: $8,799.95 (ICA, VCU Libraries, School of Business, VCUarts, RecWell, University Counseling Services, Wilder School, etc.)
Student organizations: $1,456.05 (VCU Votes Student Coalition, Interfraternity Council and more)
Discounts given in service to VCU departments and student organizations: $16,575.00
Students can engage with others of their interests and exchange ideas and technical skills that are valuable and applicable beyond graduation. I like the interdisciplinary aspect of the SMC; I’ve been exposed to many things I wouldn’t otherwise know about if I had simply stayed in my major. skills that are valuable and applicable beyond of the SMC; I’ve been exposed to many things I wouldn’t otherwise know about if I had simply — 25-26 SMC Student
“
Awards
Student Media Center organizations earned 67 awards this year including:
5 6 2 8 5
Five Society of Professional Journalists Green Eyeshade awards for investigative journalism, including first place for photography.
Eight national College Media Association Pinnacle awards including firstplace honors for sports photography, feature photography and literary magazine design
Two national Society of Professional Journalists Mark of Excellence Awards, including the national award for Sports Column Writing for Kyler Gilliam.
Six regional Society of Professional Journalists Mark of Excellence Awards, including four first-place winners that will move on to compete nationally in Opinion Column Writing, Sports Photography, Best Website for River City Fashion and Best Magazine for Amendment
Five Associated Collegiate Press Clips and Clicks awards.
The National Associated Collegiate Press Newspaper Pacemaker award for The Commonwealth Times for 2025.
Six College Media Association Apple Awards including honors for Ink Magazine, Amendment and the Commonwealth Times. 6 3 7 23
Three national Associated Collegiate Press awards for Illustrations in Ink Magazine, Pwatem and The Commonwealth Times.
Seven Associated Collegiate Press Best-of-Show awards at their fall convention including honors for Amendment, Annum Arcanum, The Commonwealth Times, Ink Magazine, Pwatem and River City Fashion.
23 Virginia Press Association awards for The Commonwealth Times including first-place honors for Page Design, Video, News Photography, Feature Photography, Sports Photography, Column Writing, News Writing, Sports Portfolio and Education Writing, as well as the News Sweepstakes award for our division.
Feedback on reporting quality for The Commonwealth Times
Every VCU student, faculty and staff member interviewed for The Commonwealth Times was contacted via email to take an anonymous follow-up survey, usually within the week the article was published, to assess reporters on accuracy and conscientiousness with the interviewee. Reporters and editors followed up with the interviewees who said their quotations or characterization were inaccurate (if the responder chose to include their email address) and were able to make corrections in the online versions of the stories when appropriate.
A few comments from students who responded:
“The interviewer conducted the interview very professionally. Her questions were clear and concise. Overall, I felt that my time was well invested.
[The Reporter] was great. I have worked with him twice now, and I think he has done a fantastic job of representing the Commonwealth Times!
A few comments from faculty and staff who responded:
[The reporter] was professional and engaging! I really enjoyed sharing the Ayida exhibition with her, and she asked good questions. The article is insightful, clear, and educational. The artists and guest curator, Serubiri Moses, also expressed to me how pleased they are with the article. Thank you for all the amazing work over at The CT!
What students are saying about their SMC experience
It’s an outlet, a portfolio-builder, and a chance to jump into a desirable workspace. Also, student media has power, and that power should be in the possession of said students, who are dedicated and passionate about creating and spreading the word.
It is so incredibly fun and welcoming, and a great way to participate in creative fields (writing, art, music, etc.) without the stress of classes and grades. Being student-run and student-led, the SMC feels like a place where you can relate to your peers, have conversations with people you wouldn’t normally run into, and support your fellow VCU students in their passion projects.
Student Media programs allow students to get a glimpse of the real world and better prepare themselves before graduation.
Among students, 100% agreed that the reporter they spoke with was “respectful and conscientious,” and 96.4% agreed that their quotations and characterizations were accurate.
Among faculty and staff, 93% agreed that the reporter they spoke with was “respectful and conscientious,” and 96% agreed that their quotations and characterizations were accurate.
“As a VCU alum and employee, I am proud of the work the CT is doing
I have been very impressed with the Commonwealth Times’ coverage of environmental issues here in Richmond and across Virginia, and I’m happy to continue supporting that work when needed.
Top notch. Often I feel awkward being interviewed, but they did a great job making me feel comfortable speaking and answering questions.
““Student Media adds a sense of community to VCU. It is a way to connect with other motivated students while in a professional setting. These programs can help further students’ experience after graduation and increase the likelihood of obtaining a job or adding to their resumes.
Student media helps to synthesize what you learn at university in a way that develops both your understanding of your respective fields and your grasp of how to implement them in your life and career. It is full of great people and can grant you the ability to do things you had never previously thought you could do!
It is so incredibly fun and welcoming, and a great way to participate in creative fields (writing, art, music, etc.) without the stress of classes and grades. Being student-run and student-led, the SMC feels like a place where you can relate to your peers, have conversations with people you wouldn’t normally run into and support your fellow VCU students in their passion projects. “
KPIs and assessment highlights
of students involved agree or strongly agree that through working with student media organizations, they have learned and practiced skills that will help build their careers after graduation. 95% 89%
of students involved agree or strongly agree that student media organizations at VCU are student-driven, student-led and student-run.
Alumni careers
SMC alumni are working all over the country, including at: USA Today, Axios, The Martin Agency, Mother Jones magazine, NASA, National Public Radio, Virginia Living Magazine, Richmond Times-Dispatch, Virginia Public Media, Meta, Richmond Magazine, SiriusXM, The L.A. Times, The Virginian-Pilot, WGN-TV Chicago, CNN, WRIC-TV and WTVR-TV in Richmond, and more.
