In an October 2019 column for the Atlantic Magazine, “We’re Doing It for Love of Community,” James Fallows examined the rise of the then twelve-year old Harvard Press as an independent weekly and concluded that the sources of our success were a deep connection and commitment to the Harvard community.
In our eighteen plus years, the Press has done its best to focus on all things Harvard and to earn our readers’ trust. The coming year is likely to be an especially challenging one with developments beyond our community demanding our attention. Changes in federal spending and new mandates are likely to affect us in ways we can’t foresee. We have learned that events beyond Harvard, such as the closure of Nashoba Valley Medical Center and the lifting of the Devens housing cap, have local consequences.
Harvard itself is changing, with a population that’s growing more diverse each year, a new cohort of younger families with children, an aging generation of baby boomers, and a worsening fiscal outlook that will place new demands on our local economy. And yet, in the midst of these changes, the life of the community goes on: town government, community events, sports, births, deaths.
To ensure our coverage reflects our readers values, concerns, and interests, we have decided to convene a community advisory board, a diverse, five- to seven-member group selected from among our subscribers. The group will meet bimonthly or quarterly for one and one-half to two hours to review and provide feedback on the newspaper’s coverage, tone, and focus, and to brainstorm ideas for making the Press better. Each member will serve for one year.
We’re looking for volunteers. To apply—or to recommend someone—please complete and submit the online Community Advisory Committee application form, which you’ll find here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScI7Fp2uWh-4OVZpBb2Mxh4vnNqr9vw1wc7npsDF3GZU0eoqg/viewform. We’ll ask you to tell us a bit about your background and connection to Harvard, your interests or expertise relevant to the board’s mission, and your motivations for wanting to serve. We’ll announce the names of the inaugural members of the committee in February.
We hope our inbox overflows. It’s your opportunity to have a voice in local journalism and the direction of your town’s source for independent news.
