The GWPR Is a Long Time Coming
by the GWPR Editorial Board
We are the George Washington University (GW) Political Review, or the GWPR. We believe that all GW students should have the chance to convey our opinions about politics through writing. All of us at GW should be able to write our conscience, no matter our major, grade level, prior experience, or political identity.
There is no other organization on campus quite like us. We are the only publication at GW that lets its members share their political opinions without strict constraints. For example, The GW Hatchet does not allow its members to share their political opinions unless they relate to GW or DC. Other GW publications may cover politics, but in a more narrow scope. Media File only covers news about media. In addition, the Roosevelt Institute allows students to write and publish research. However, it has an ideological bent and is the university chapter of the left-wing think tank of the same name.
The list could go on. What sets the GWPR apart is our commitment to helping any GW student share their voice about any relevant political topics. No other organization on campus shares this mission. Considering that we go to college in the heart of DC, the GWPR is a long time coming.
Not only is our mission different from other GW organizations. Our structure is different too.
Our members are split into three groups: Guest Writers, Writers, and Senior Writers. Guest writers are new or infrequent writers. They have only written a few articles, and may not write consistently. Writers more consistently contribute articles, usually having written and published 3–5 articles in total. Finally, there are Senior Writers. They are loyal GWPR members, write almost every cycle, and have written over 5 articles on a consistent basis.
We are a new organization. At the moment our writing does not occur on a set schedule. However, we will switch to having monthly cycles as we continue to grow our membership.
At the GWPR, we believe that writers are the most important part of any media organization. A newspaper, newsletter, magazine, or other media publication cannot thrive without the crucial contributions of its writers. In addition, writing and editing are codependent skills. Improving one can improve the other. GWPR writers should have the chance to create their own content and help improve the content of others.
That is why the GWPR has Peer-Review Pods. These are small groups of 2–3 writers that review and edit each other’s work. This will allow writers to become better at improving their own writing and the writing of others.
The Editorial Board is responsible for assigning Peer-Review Pods each cycle, and editing articles once the pods have reviewed. The Editorial Board is our leadership body. It is led by the Editor-in-Chief, who is responsible for managing the GWPR, working with writers, and carrying out our mission. See our Constitution on GW Engage for more technical details about our Board structure and voting procedures.
The GWPR is a unique publication on campus. Our mission is to give any GW student the chance to write about what they believe and share their opinions about politics. This is crucial at a college campus as politically-motivated as ours’. We are devoted to helping our members develop their writing skills and shaping them into more effective communicators.
We want to hear from you, regardless of your background or where you stand on the issues. All we care about is intelligent, evidence-based, and high-quality political writing. We will adjust to each individual’s writing style and viewpoints.
Email us at admin@thegwpr.com. Introduce yourself, pitch your article idea, and start writing now.
