Harvard Program Named For A.M. Rosenthal

By: Joe Strupp The Shorenstein Center on the Press, Politics and Public Policy at Harvard University has created a new program for writers named in honor of A.M. Rosenthal.

The Rosenthal Writer-in-Residence Program will bring professional nonfiction writers to the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University "and provide an opportunity for them to conduct research and work on a specific project, as well as interact with a community of scholars and students," an announcement stated.

Rosenthal, who died in 2006, was a former executive editor of The New York Times and later one of its Op-Ed columnists. His son, Andrew, is currently the paper's editorial page editor.

The Rosenthal writer-in residence will receive a $30,000 stipend and will have an office at the Shorenstein Center and a student research assistant. In addition to the writing project, the writer will teach workshops and participate in Shorenstein Center events. Candidates for the program should be writers with an established project and a solid history of published books or essays in the area of press, policy or public affairs.

"Abe Rosenthal was my boss at The Times," Alex S. Jones, Shorenstein Center director, said in a statement. "I think he would be delighted by the idea of a writing program in his name at Harvard. We are honored that Abe's family and friends have chosen this new initiative as his memorial. He was a fierce believer in the power of writing and in democracy, and we will work to instill those values in the program."

Shirley Lord Rosenthal, Rosenthal's widow, is the lead donor to the program. Proceeds from the sale of Rosenthal's papers to the New York Public Library were given to the Harvard Rosenthal Fund for the program, the announcement stated.

Writers who wish to be considered for the program should send a one-page letter describing their writing project, along with their curriculum, to Jones at alex_jones@harvard.edu.