Financial Challenges Force Closure of Harvard Public Health Magazine: The High Cost of Journalism

After more than ten years of publication, Harvard Public Health Magazine is shutting down. The magazine, linked to Harvard’s School of Public Health, struggled financially and couldn’t find a way to become profitable.

Michael F. Fitzgerald, the editor-in-chief, shared the news in a letter on the website. He explained that journalism is costly and that it doesn’t fit neatly into the university’s main goals of teaching and research. They simply ran out of time to boost revenue.

Fitzgerald revealed that he learned about the closure in January. He mentioned that writers were allowed to complete their ongoing projects before the magazine officially closed its doors. “They told us we could continue with the pieces we had, but we should not take on new assignments,” he said.

Stephanie Simon, Dean for Communications and Strategic Initiatives at HSPH, acknowledged the magazine’s exceptional work but noted it wasn’t essential for the school’s mission. She stated that cutting the magazine was part of a larger effort to save resources.

With the magazine’s closure, four positions were eliminated, and three employees lost their jobs. Fitzgerald originally created the magazine to explore public health issues in a way that was independent of any specific institution. He believed it was akin to the Harvard Business Review but focused on public health.

The magazine published new content twice a week online and released print editions three times a year. However, costs for paper and postage rose steeply during the pandemic, prompting a shift to mostly digital content.

Fitzgerald admitted that the magazine was always a bit small and economically challenging to sustain. Despite the difficulties, he felt proud of the meaningful work they accomplished. Recent topics included indigenous displacement and racism in healthcare, providing in-depth analysis and opinion pieces.

While the magazine is closing, its website will remain archived for future reference. HSPH still plans to inform the public about important health news through press releases and videos featuring faculty and students.

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