When the owner of the General Store building announced its sale, two residents stepped up to ensure it remained a hub of community activity. At Special Town Meeting in October, voters narrowly approved the purchase of land for a new athletic field. Meanwhile, Harvard’s schools continue to struggle with depressed MCAS scores. And this week, work on next year’s budget begins, severely constrained by revenues that fail to keep up with costs.

Who tells you these stories? Who makes sure you understand what happened and why it matters? For nearly 20 years, the Harvard Press has depended on dedicated community reporters—neighbors who care enough to attend meetings, ask hard questions, and explain complex decisions. Now, as some of our most experienced reporters step back after more than a decade of service, we’re seeking the next generation of storytellers.

This is your opportunity to learn from veterans with deep institutional knowledge before they pass the torch. We’re seeking three to five people to join our reporting fellowship program this fall.

Maybe you’re already our ideal candidate. Perhaps you stay after town meetings to ask Select Board members follow-up questions. You might be recently retired, looking for something intellectually challenging. Maybe you attend every School Committee meeting—or every varsity soccer game. When you enounter interesting people you think, “Everyone should know about them,” or maybe you’ve always been curious about how local government works.

This isn’t casual volunteering—it’s serious, rewarding work. Some stories are puzzles—finding sources, asking questions that get past official talking points. Others reflect who we are: profiling new business owners, introducing readers to neighbors from different backgrounds, capturing what makes Harvard and Devens unique. Whether you’re drawn to covering Select Board meetings or telling stories of community life, you’ll learn professional journalism skills through our four-workshop training program and work with an experienced mentor for six months.

The rewards run deeper than modest pay. Your stories directly influence local decisions. You’ll understand how your town operates and master skills—interviewing, research, clear writing—that are valuable everywhere.

We’re looking for people who are curious, willing to learn, and ready to commit five to 10 hours per week, including some evening meetings. No journalism experience required—just the ability to communicate clearly and the desire to serve your community.

Curious? Fill out a brief interest form at https://forms.gle/MZP8aZCGMdc2vvir5. We’ll invite you to an information session where you can meet current reporters and ask questions. No commitment yet—just a conversation.

The Harvard Press has served our community for nearly 20 years. Help us write the next chapter.