June 10, 2009       

MEDIA CONTACT: Thai Phi Stone
202-994-6424; tpstone@gwu.edu

GW WINS EMMY AWARD

WASHINGTON--The George Washington University's innovative Semester in Washington journalism program recently won the University an Emmy Award for Outstanding Achievement in Student Production, given out each year by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.

The award was given by the Academy's Chesapeake Region Chapter for NBCinterns.com, a series of online video stories about life in Washington, D.C., from the perspective of a team of interns. The series aired as a half-hour television show after Saturday Night Live on WRC-TV, the D.C. NBC affiliate in the summer 2008. The NBC interns worked under the guidance and supervision of GW Associate Professor Amos Gelb, director of the Semester in Washington journalism program.

"This award is a fitting recognition for the work of some extraordinary students, remarkable professionals at NBC and our vision here at the Semester in Washington in looking to define the future of journalism," said Professor Gelb. "What made the series so successful was the unusual approach the students took. NBCinterns is an example of the new media journalism that everybody is talking about, but few have worked out how to do as well as these students."

The Semester in Washington journalism program brings undergraduate students from across the country to GW to intern and explore the future of journalism in the nation's capital for a semester or summer. The program has been hailed for its academic innovations and attention to students.

"This Emmy Award belongs to GW's leaders whose vision, effort and support have allowed the Semester in Washington to become the gold standard in experiential journalism education and is a fitting recognition of their commitment to putting GW at the forefront of media education," added Professor Gelb.

The Semester in Washington Journalism Program is part of GW's internationally renowned School of Media and Public Affairs and the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences.

To view one of the episodes of "NBC Interns," visit
www.nbcwashington.com/around_town/NBC_Interns__Episode_3_Washington_DC.html.

For more information about the Semester in Washington, visit www.siwjournalism.gwu.edu

For more news about The George Washington University, visit www.gwnewscenter.org.

- GW -