Student media at VCU is big and broad–from legacy publications like the student newspaper that’s been around since the school was formed to cutting-edge digital publications. The Student Media Center houses nine student-run media organizations available on various media platforms — newspaper, radio, literary and arts journals, digital only-publications, video, comics and more. These outlets have won an avalanche of national and local awards for excellence in collegiate work. https://studentmedia.vcu.edu/awards/

The Student Media Center and its organizations exist to unite the diverse VCU community by sharing student voices and viewpoints through a variety of media platforms. The student-run media outlets provide public forums where student leaders foster inclusive, respectful, collaborative and creative environments. 

A portion of the Student Activity Fee, which is part of the annual student bill, primarily funds the Student Media Center. As such, these publications are free to all students. Likewise, all students are welcome to get involved—there are no year or major requirements.

This Cabell Screen exhibit features work from student media published in 2023-24.

  • Amendment was started in 2004 and is focused on social progress through literature and art. Amendment’s purpose statement includes: “Provoke thoughtful conversation and inspire artists to develop conscientiousness and self-expression regarding issues of gender, sexuality, race, class, power and ability through diverse approaches and genres.”
  • Annum Arcanum is an atelier and annual anthology archiving arcane artworks. Annum Arcanum is a new organization founded in the  Fall of 2023, publishing its first collection in 2024. The goal of this publication is two-fold. First, it showcases works that are experimental, niche, or otherwise outside of the mainstream. The organization also strives to be a resource for students to develop their skills as artists.
  • Emanata, launched in 2014, is a student-run publication dedicated to uplifting the comics community at VCU and the greater Richmond area by providing avenues for comics artists to publish their work in an anthology. It is published annually in print and online.
  • The Commonwealth Times is a student-led and student-produced media organization that has been serving the Virginia Commonwealth University campuses at Monroe Park and MCV since 1969. (Image: Anthony Duong, The Commonwealth Times)
  • Ink Magazine was started in 1978 as a Black student publication named Reflections in Ink. In the 1990s, the publication was renamed The Vine. In 2008, the magazine became Ink. Ink’s current mission statement is: “The magazine is devoted to the goals of diversity and multiculturalism that VCU itself embodies. Our goal is to reach the subcultures, the outsiders and those who feel unrepresented in print form.”
  • Pwatem is an anthology of literature and art from undergraduate students at Virginia Commonwealth University. Pwatem publishes poetry, prose and art of all kinds from talented undergraduate students of all majors. Pwatem’s title comes from James Branch Cabell’s series of novels and other works titled Biography of the Life of Manuel. The setting of all the works is the fictional province of France, Poictesme (pwa-tem). Cabell lived and died in Richmond. 
  • River City Fashion Magazine is an online The online fashion and style website that reports local events but also details style trends while uncovering local design talent.

Artists, in order their work appears in the exhibit, are:

  • Abigail Gleeson, The Commonwealth Times
  • Aishwarya Anil, Amendment Literary and Art Journal
  • Andrew Kerley, The Commonwealth Times
  • Bailey Woods, The Commonwealth Times
  • Dylan Hostetter, The Commonwealth Times
  • Isabelle Samay, Ink Magazine
  • Jasper Havens, Pwatem: An anthology of literature and art
  • Josh Brown, River City Fashion Magazine
  • Killian Goodale-Porter, The Commonwealth Times
  • Killian Goodale-Porter, The Commonwealth Times
  • Kimberly Easterling, Emanata Comics Anthology
  • Kirsten Sturgill, Pwatem: An anthology of literature and art
  • Lauryn Baynes, Amendment Literary and Art Journal
  • LightPainterr, Amendment Literary and Art Journal
  • Lily Angeline Heese, Pwatem: An anthology of literature and art
  • Lily Belleville, Pwatem: An anthology of literature and art
  • MadelineTrice, Annum Arcanum
  • Mikayla Lindsey, The Commonwealth Times
  • Morgan Lee, Emanata Comics Anthology
  • Rhand Abdelhalim, Pwatem: An anthology of literature and art
  • Selah Pennington, Ink Magazine
  • Summer DeCiucis, River City Fashion Magazine
  • Trinity Bui, Annum Arcanum
  • Victor Romanko, The Commonwealth Times  
  • Victor Kuye, Pwatem: An anthology of literature and art
  • Olivia McCabe, Pwatem: An anthology of literature and art
  • Marty Alexeenko, Ink Magazine
  • Lily Angeline Heese, Pwatem: An anthology of literature and art
  • Isaiah Mamo, Ink Magazine
  • Daisey Nguyen, The Commonwealth Times
  • Avery Eckhert, Pwatem: An anthology of literature and art
  • Ashley Davis, Amendment Literary and Art Journal
  • Apollo Hurley, Amendment Literary and Art Journal
  • Anthony Duong, The Commonwealth Times
  • Anthony Duong, The Commonwealth Times
  • Andrew Hill, The Commonwealth Times
  • Amuri Morris, Amendment Literary and Art Journal
Categories Comic Arts, Communication Arts, Community, Student Work, Students