Resources for Journalists

Overview

This page includes information for members of the news media who would like information about Harvard University and its affiliates. It includes resources frequently requested by journalists, as well as information about navigating Harvard’s decentralized communications offices. Please feel free to contact a media relations office for assistance.

• Communications Offices at Harvard University
• Biographical Information
• General Telephone Numbers for Harvard University
• Contacting Someone
• Experts
• Filming and Photographing on Campus
• Harvard University’s History
• Information About Students
• ISDN Booth for Radio Interviews
• News Releases
• Photo and video assets
• President Drew Faust
• Speeches
• Statistics
• Verifying Degrees

Communications Offices at Harvard University

Most of Harvard University’s undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools have their own media relations office. The Office of Public Affairs & Communications, aka HPAC, often handles news about University-wide issues and inquiries regarding general information about the University. Journalists should contact the communications office for the appropriate school or department for the best service.

• Harvard Public Affairs & Communications
• Other news offices at Harvard
• Affiliated teaching hospitals and health institutions’ communications offices

Biographical Information

Many web pages on Harvard’s network have biographical information about Harvard faculty and staff members. You can locate many of these pages by using a search engine for Harvard’s network. (To search for a phrase, we recommend using quotes, for example: “John Harvard.”) Many departments and schools have biographical information for their faculty linked from their websites. HPAC and many news offices on campus keep some biographical material, also. Contact a communications office for assistance.

General Telephone Numbers for Harvard University

One of the Harvard Homepage FAQs lists general telephone numbers for the University, including numbers for the University operators, the schools, and other notable places and services.

The University’s operators can give you the phone numbers for or connect your call to Harvard departments, offices, students, and employees. They may only be available during normal working hours: Monday through Friday, 9 am to 5 pm.

Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences617-496-3815

Contacting Someone

Many campus communications offices prefer that journalists contact them before talking to someone at Harvard. The campus directories may have contact information for faculty, staff, and students. Harvard affiliates can request that their contact information be withheld from the public directories.

Experts

To find an expert on Harvard’s faculty or staff to interview, contact the appropriate news office or browse through the experts lists several communications offices have placed online:

• Harvard Divinity School Media Guide
• Harvard Graduate School of Education Faculty Profiles
• Harvard Kennedy School’s Faculty Profiles

Filming and Photographing on Campus

The media relations offices request that people interested in taking or contracting photographs or filming the campus for commercial or news purposes seek permission from them first. To request the mandatory permit, please contact HPAC Media Relations at 617-495-1585.

Harvard University’s History

Sources for information about Harvard’s history, including web-based resources, are available via the campus’ archives. This resource contains a wealth of information and records about the University.

Information About Students

Federal laws may prohibit someone at the University from releasing certain information about a student, including even acknowledging whether s/he is currently enrolled. The campus directories provide some information about current students. The registrar’s offices may also be able to provide some information about a student. (Note: there is no central registrar’s office for the entire University.) You can also contact a communications office for assistance.

ISDN Booth for Radio Interviews

HPAC maintains a high-quality ISDN connection and broadcast quality audio studio that Harvard faculty, staff, and students can use for radio interviews with national and international media. Please contact Mr. Evan Whitney, Media Relations Assistant by telephone at 617-495-1585 or by e-mail for scheduling, technical details and more information.

News Releases

Harvard’s press offices produce their own news releases. Many releases are available over the web. Visit the website for the appropriate news office for more information about their press releases.

• Faculty of Arts and Sciences
• Harvard Business School
• Harvard Divinity School
• Harvard Graduate School of Education
• School of Engineering and Applied Sciences
• Harvard Law School
• Harvard Kennedy School
• Harvard Medical School
• Harvard School of Public Health
• Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study
• Harvard Art Museums
• Athletics
• Harvard College Library
• Center for Astrophysics
• Harvard Museum of Natural History

Photo and video assets

Harvard Photographic Services, the photo and video department of HPAC, provides photos and video to the media, Harvard affiliates, and the general public. Information about ordering media, or contracting assignments, is on the media services web page.

President Drew Faust

The website for the Office of the President has biographical information about the president, speeches and statements, photos, and other useful material.

Speeches

There is no central department or office on campus that collects speeches from every guest speaking on campus. The sponsoring department, office, or group might have information about getting a copy of a speech. HPAC collects some speeches from major events, like Commencement. Some recent Commencement speeches are available through the Commencement website. The Harvard University Archives may have the text of other speeches.

Statistics

Links to and information about sources of statistics and numbers related to the University are in Harvard at a Glance. Find information about Harvard’s students, faculty, and staff; the endowment and the institution’s finances; financial aid; tuition and fees; acreage; and more.

Verifying Degrees

The University Alumni Records Office can verify most degrees, including honorary degrees, and University attendance: 617-495-2371. The registrar’s offices may also be able to confirm degrees and University attendance. There is no central registrar’s office for the entire University. Student privacy laws also pertain to some alumni records. Because students and alumni can request that information related to their University attendance not be released, it may not be possible for someone at the University to verify attendance, divulge information about a degree, or share other information about someone who may have attended Harvard University.