About Us

Mission Statement

The Harbinger is a student-run publication which strives to:

• Report in a legal, objective, accurate and ethical manner
• Entertain and start conversation
• Be fair and impartial in its coverage
• Accurately portray the culture of the student body
• Give voice to the students of Algonquin
• Maintain professional standards

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The Harbinger has been continuously published since 1989 (the student newspaper debuted as The Smoke Signal in 1986) and is affiliated with the National Scholastic Press Association (NSPA), The New England Scholastic Press Association (NESPA) and The Columbia Scholastic Press Association (CSPA).

Publication Awards & Recognitions

CSPA Gold Crown (hybrid news) 2024, 2018

NSPA Online Pacemaker:  2022, 2018

NSPA Newspaper Pacemaker: 2018

NSPA Online Pacemaker Finalist:  2021, 2023

NSPA Newspaper Pacemaker Finalist: 2020

CSPA Silver Crown (digital news) 2022, 2023

CSPA Silver Crown (hybrid news) 2019, 2020, 2021

NSPA All-American rating (print) 2017, 2018, 2020

NESPA All New England, First Place 2016-2023

Massachusetts Press Association Award for General Excellence 2017

CSPA Gold Medalist 2007-2019, 2021, 2024

National Individual Awards & Recognitions

2021 Cartoon of the Year, Editorial Cartoon, fifth place: Kyla Pelham for “The two-party system has pitted us against each other”

2020 NSPA News Story of the Year, second place: Catherine Hayden & Gabriela Paz-Soldan for “This Bites: EEE’s impact on Algonquin”

2018 JEA Massachusetts Journalist of the Year: Cassidy Wang

2018 NSPA News Story of the Year, third place: Paige Morse & Cassidy Wang for “Vape Culture”

2015 CSPA Gold Circle Award, first place for Personality Profile: Dan Fishbein for “From Female of male: Alex opens up about being himself”

2013 CSPA Gold Circle Award, commendation for Personal Opinion: On-Campus Issues: Dan Fishbein for “Cheating to stay on top must stop”

 

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The Harbinger is the official student-publication of news and information published and produced by Algonquin Regional High School students. Algonquin Regional High School is the public high school of the towns of Northborough, MA and Southborough, MA.

The Harbinger has been established as a designated public forum for student editors to inform and educate their readers as well as for the discussion of issues of concern to their audience.The Harbinger is not reviewed or restrained by school officials prior to publication or distribution.

Because school officials do not engage in prior review, and the content of The Harbinger is determined by and reflects only the views of the student staff and not school officials or the school itself, its student editorial board and student staff members assume complete legal liability for the content of the publication.

The expression of opinions by all readers is encouraged through letters to the editor. Letters to the editor may be submitted to [email protected]. Letters to editor should not exceed 300 words, must be signed, and must include writer’s email address and phone number for verification. (see additional information about Letters to the editor below)

Concerns about errors published in The Harbinger may be submitted though the adviser or Editors in Chief. Staff members will strive to correct errors prior to publication; however, if the editorial board determines a significant error is printed, the editorial board will determine the manner and timeliness of a correction. (see additional information about corrections and take down requests below)

Businesses, organizations and individuals interested in advertising in The Harbinger should contact the editors at [email protected] for rates, policies, and deadlines. Advertising that appears in The Harbinger is not necessarily endorsed by The Harbinger or its staff members, editorial board or adviser.

Typography and layout is done entirely by The Harbinger staff. The Harbinger is printed by School Paper Express in Wappingers Falls, NY. The Harbinger publishes and distributes its print newsmagazine approximately 1,000 copies four times a year to the school community and paid subscribers.