If there’s one message that came through loud and clear from a survey we conducted last year, it’s that our readers rely on us for coverage of local news. You want more of it: more coverage of town government, including our elected and appointed boards and town administration; more coverage of our schools, their administrators, their teachers, their achievements and challenges; and more week-by-week coverage of major projects, such as the renovation of Town Hall, whose progress depends on the work of multiple boards and volunteers, not just a single vote of the Selectmen or the Finance Committee. And, of course, more features about the fascinating people and places that make life in Harvard so interesting.
As a small circulation weekly, the Harvard Press lacks the resources to hire a staff of professional reporters to keep up with town happenings. We’re not backed by a media conglomerate or by foundation money; we depend on our subscribers and advertisers to sustain us. For our reporting, we depend on residents who love reporting and writing and want to develop their skills while contributing to their town. We even pay—modestly—for the stories that we publish.
We need more of you. So we’d like to reaffirm our standing invitation to anyone with an interest in community journalism to join us. All that we require is a passion to learn more about the ins and outs of town government and the ability to write. Previous experience is always welcome; we can teach you the rest.
We’ll start you off with small, manageable news assignments, but as you gain confidence and skill we’ll offer you opportunities to tackle bigger stories, or try your hand at profile, feature, or investigative writing. We coach and support our reporters individually and in our writers’ meetings, where we plan the week’s news and features and discuss how we can improve. Think of us as a learning collaborative, an incubator, a place to hone your skills. That’s part of our mission, too.
If you’re interested, please send an email to editor@harvardpress.com. We hope you’ll join us.
