They don’t call it a newspaper for nothing…
The News Board is the heart and soul of The Crimson. We scooped that Claudine Gay would be resigning, beating national outlets to the story. We scooped them before, too, when we announced that Harvard’s top board would support her a few weeks earlier. From covering student government scandals to hard-hitting metro coverage and exclusive interviews with Harvard's top administrators, our board pulls back the curtain on institutional structures across the University and the city of Cambridge. Staff writers see their bylines run in our weekly newspaper and on our award-winning website, which receives more than 1.75 million page views. We are a hardworking, close-knit community that extends from our undergraduate days to long past graduation.
News is a home not just for aspiring journalists, but for anyone who wants to speak truth to power, amplify marginalized voices, and make a difference on campus. Our stories garner campus-wide — and even nationwide — attention, often pushing the administration to make impactful changes.
Our writers learn how to ask the right questions and get answers. They learn how to investigate and organize facts into writing. No previous experience in journalism is necessary: the comp process is designed to provide students with all the skills necessary for becoming a reporter. We cannot emphasize this enough: no previous experience required!
We further encourage anyone who wants to hone their writing skills, explore the inner workings of Harvard, or forge incredible friendships to comp the News Board!
During the comp, reporters-in-training will:
- Attend weekly comp seminars.
- Publish up to six daily articles — and an optional long-form feature — with plenty of guidance.
- Make friends and get integrated into the news board's social life with a number of fun, casual comp events like trivia night and happy hours.
- Participate in ongoing discussions about how to continue to make The Crimson a more diverse and inclusive space.
- Join the ranks of The Crimson’s most prestigious board, which has produced the likes of American presidents and Pulitzer Prize winners.
Any questions? Want more information? Don’t hesitate to contact our News Comp Directors Azusa M. Lippit (azusa.lippit@thecrimson.com) and Asher J. Montgomery (asher.montgomery@thecrimson.com) with any and all questions and concerns.
SHOWCASED WORK
Harvard President Claudine Gay Resigns, Shortest Tenure in University History
By Emma H. Haidar and Cam E. Kettles
Harvard President Claudine Gay resigned Tuesday afternoon, after fierce criticism of the University’s response to the Hamas attack on Israel and backlash from her disastrous congressional testimony spiraled into allegations of plagiarism and doubts about her personal academic integrity.
Gay’s tenure — of just six months and two days — is the shortest in Harvard’s history.
‘Still Unresolved’: Harvard Student Group Missing Approximately $30,000 After Leadership Dispute
By J. Sellers Hill and Sage S. Lattman
The former president of the Harvard Undergraduate Foreign Policy Initiative, just weeks after the conclusion of her term, transferred approximately $30,000 from the organization’s bank account to her own.
Protected by Decades-Old Power Structures, Three Renowned Harvard Anthropologists Face Allegations of Sexual Harassment
By James S. Bikales
Senior Anthropology professors Theodore C. Bestor, Gary Urton, and John L. Comaroff have weathered allegations of sexual harassment, including some leveled by students. But affiliates said gender issues in the department stretch beyond them.
The Old Boys’ Network: Racism, Sexism, and Alleged Favoritism In Harvard’s Police Department
By Ema R. Schumer
For the most part, Harvard affiliates know Harvard University police officers as the men and women who patrol campus events, frequent the dining halls, and help freshmen move into their dorms. Within the department’s walls, though, HUPD is divided over incidents involving female officers and officers of color, and allegations of favoritism and retaliation.
Harvard Faculty Vote to Eliminate Shopping Week in Favor of Previous-Term Course Registration System
By Ariel H. Kim and Meimei Xu
Harvard faculty voted to eliminate shopping week in favor of a previous-term course registration system on Tuesday, ending a decades-old scheduling quirk that allowed students to sample courses before enrolling during the first week of each semester.