THE CRIMSON MANAGEMENT

After years of uncertainty and struggle, as told in other columns this morning, the CRIMSON is now settled on a substantial business basis. Two objects are effected by the present organization: the board is able at the least labor and expense to turn out a paper, which, in its belief, is best fitted to the needs and good of the University; and a practical method has been evolved of securing efficient recruits from the incoming classes, and of assuring the promotion on the board of those men best fitted to carry on the policy of the paper.

From start to finish the positions on the CRIMSON are open to competition. The average board is composed of ten editors, who are chosen from a large number of candidates during four competitions--two Freshman year, and two Sophomore year. One, two, three, or even four editors may be taken from each competition, according as they have proved their worth to the satisfaction of the managing editor. At first the work is very general and consists of picking up about the College any items of peculiar interest. Any candidate who shows that he is in earnest easily survives this stage, and is given every possible assistance by conferences with the editors. Soon the more promising news gatherers are given simple assignments, if they have proved their willingness to work and their ability to write intelligently. Later the news field is divided among the candidates, who are left to their own resources and held responsible for their respective departments.

When, in January or in May, a new lot of editors is elected to the paper, they are in line for the more serious work of actual management. In September the members of the Junior board take turns in assuming the entire responsibility for the contents and appearance of the next day's paper, and from the results of this work three assistant managing editors are chosen for the first half-year. Under the careful supervision of the managing editor each of the assistants takes entire charge of the paper two nights each week. He supervises the work of the candidates, corrects the copy, and directs the make-up. Each assistant has a personal interest in the general worth and appearance of his paper, for at the mid-year election the best of the three is chosen managing editor for the second half-year.

Thus far the competitor has been subjected to routine duties. He has now an opportunity to assert himself and exert a very considerable influence upon the worth of the paper. He has entire charge of the candidates and of the news end. He assigns stories of general interest and plans for the cuts that are to appear from time to time. He criticizes the papers from day to day for the benefit of his assistants. Every morning he must "make out the dummy," which consists of assigning to the individual candidates the topics of the day and designating to his assistant his general scheme of make-up and featuring of stories for the following morning. At the completion of his half-year's work he succeeds directly to the presidency.

As president of the CRIMSON an editor is in a position of no small responsibility. He has entire charge of the editorial policies, and general authority over the other departments of the paper. In matters of dispute he has the final word. If the CRIMSON is at fault in any department, upon him rests the ultimate blame, for he is the one finally responsible.

It is thus evident that the CRIMSON elects two managing editors and two presidents each year. He who is managing editor during the first half-year will be president during the second; he who is managing editor the second half-year will be president the first half of the year to come. During the first half-year it always follows that the assistants are Juniors, and the managing editor and president are Seniors; during the second half-year the assistants are Juniors, the managing editor a Junior, and the president a Senior.

Positions on the business end of the CRIMSON are secured by separate competition. One Sophomore is chosen each year as the result of a half-year's competition in soliciting subscriptions and advertising. He succeeds directly, without further competition, to the position of business manager. As such he is responsible for the finances of the paper, keeps the CRIMSON's books, and has entire charge of the advertising department. Aside from the officers of the paper, the duties of a CRIMSON editor are not great. One Sophomore or Junior is chosen each year to cover football, one to cover baseball, and one for crew. Candidates are therefore excluded from these fields. Simple assignments must be covered by members of the board during the examination periods, when no candidates are at work. They must attend board meetings at intervals to discuss questions of policy, and must sign in the office every day, subject to fine for neglect to do so. The same penalty is imposed for failure to cover assignments and for absence from board meetings.

The system outlined above insures simplicity and prevents conflict of authority. It is the result of a gradual development from the time when journalism at Harvard was in its infancy. Today the CRIMSON is the result of the CRIMSON's system.