From the archives: the pioneering Crimson women of the New York Times

With the appointment of Jill Abramson '76 as executive editor, we take a look back at pathbreaking Harvard student journalists who helped change the nation's premier newspaper.

With the appointment of Jill Abramson '76 as executive editor of the New York Times—the first time a woman has held that senior post—it is timely to revisit "Women of the Times: Radcliffe Rampant at The New York Times," Harvard Magazine's September-October 1995 feature on pioneering women journalists, written by long-time contributor Nardi Reeder Campion. The article recounts the early-1960s exclusion of women from the main floor National Press Club, where critical briefings were held, and changes in the profession since then. Among the reporters covered in the article are Alessandra Stanley '77, who now reviews television for the Times; retired Supreme Court reporter Linda Greenhouse '68 (a member of the Board of Overseers); Susan Chira '80, now foreign editor; and early editors Soma Golden Behr '61 and Linda McVeigh Mathews '67, J.D. '72 (the first female managing editor of the Crimson).

Campion concluded her account this way:

Ignoring a Times dictum—Never use the future tense—I predict a woman will some day become managing editor of The New York Times. And I'm betting big she will be a Harvard-Radcliffe alumna.

The Times's article today on Abramson's appointment reports:

In her remarks to the staff on Thursday, she took time to acknowledge “my sisters,” naming more than a dozen women at The Times who have helped her along the way, including the company’s chief executive, Janet L. Robinson. “Every executive editor stands on the shoulders of others,” she said.

 

Related topics

You might also like

A New Prescription for Youth Mental Health

Kenyan entrepreneur Tom Osborn ’20 reimagines care for a global crisis.

A (Truly) Naked Take on Second-Wave Feminism

Playwright Bess Wohl’s Liberation opens on Broadway.

Most popular

What Trump Means for John Roberts's Legacy

Executive power is on the docket at the Supreme Court.

Harvard’s Endowment, Donations Rise—but the University Runs a Deficit

The annual financial report signals severe challenges to come.

The Elephant in the Room

Conservative undergraduates’ campus debates

Explore More From Current Issue

A vibrant bar scene with tropical decor, featuring patrons sitting on high stools.

Best Bars for Seasonal Drinks and Snacks in Greater Boston

Gathering spots that warm and delight us  

An illustrative portrait of Justice Roberts in a black robe, resting his chin on his hand.

What Trump Means for John Roberts's Legacy

Executive power is on the docket at the Supreme Court.

People gather near the John Harvard Statue in front of University Hall surrounded by autumn trees.

A Changed Harvard Faces the Future

After a tense summer—and with no Trump settlement in sight—the University continues to adapt.