Harvard's prestigious Nieman Foundation for Journalism just named its new leader: Henry Chu, a journalist who's reported from over 30 countries and practically seen it all. He steps into the curator role on August 3, ready to tackle the glorious mess that is modern journalism.
University Provost John F. Manning, probably doing a happy dance, lauded Chu's dedication to both the craft and the art of mentoring. Because, let's be honest, good journalism needs all the help it can get right now, and someone committed to raising standards worldwide is a welcome sight.
From Pulitzer Prizes to Press Freedom
Chu isn't just any journalist; he's a Harvard alum and a former Nieman Fellow himself. So, he knows the hallowed halls of academia and the daily grind of chasing a story. John Harwood, who chairs the Nieman Foundation's advisory board, basically said, "This guy knows his stuff."
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Start Your News DetoxFor years, Chu was the Los Angeles Times' man on the ground, filing dispatches from Beijing, Rio, New Delhi, and London. He's covered everything from U.S.-China summits to the Iraq War, and even the UK's slightly dramatic exit from the EU. The man's passport must have needed extra pages.
Chu himself is "honored and excited," which is the polite way of saying, "Journalism is vital, but also a dumpster fire, and I'm here to help." He plans to rally journalists, academics, and even policymakers to duke it out over pressing issues like AI's impact, press freedom (or lack thereof in some places), political polarization, and why everyone needs to stop falling for fake news.
He also wants to cozy up with other Harvard departments and strengthen the ties with the Nieman Foundation's global network of alumni. Since 1938, over 1,700 journalists have spent a year at Harvard, essentially hitting pause on deadlines to actually think about journalism. Chu will be the ninth curator in the foundation's 88-year history, which, if you think about it, is both impressive and slightly terrifying.
Before taking the top job, Chu was already steering the ship as interim leader. He's been directing programs, picking the bright minds who become Fellows, and overseeing Nieman's trio of publications: Nieman Lab, Nieman Reports, and Nieman Storyboard. He's basically been the unsung hero, now with a shiny new title. He was even part of two Pulitzer Prize-winning teams early in his career. So, yeah, he's good.
