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EnglishWhat is The Berkeley Beacon?
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The Berkeley Beacon is Emerson College's only independent, student-run newspaper, published since 1947. It delivers original reporting to the Emerson community while giving students hands-on professional journalism experience. If you're looking for Emerson campus news, student government coverage, or Boston-area reporting written and edited by students, this is the publication to follow.
Who runs it
The Beacon is independent and student-run — it is not a communications office or a department publication. That distinction matters: editorial decisions, reporting, and production are handled by students rather than college administrators. The paper describes itself as Emerson's only independent, student-run newspaper and has operated under that model since 1947.
What it publishes
Content centers on the Emerson community and the surrounding Boston area. Based on its current front page, typical coverage includes:
- Campus news — for example, the annual Study Abroad Fair, the opening of the Cutler-Winn Commons, and Student Government Association meetings
- College policy and partnerships — such as reporting on Emerson's partnership with the architecture firm HDR Inc.
- Program coverage — including stories on the Kasteel Well program's fortieth anniversary and enrollment trends
- Opinion and commentary — editorials, op-eds, and comics, including letters from the Editor-in-Chief
- Metro/Boston news — such as the Massachusetts 9/11 fund commemoration and police investigations in the city
The mix means you get both institution-specific reporting and broader local coverage, all produced by student journalists.
When and how it publishes
The Beacon maintains two formats:
| Format | Schedule |
|---|---|
| Online | Daily |
| Thursdays during the academic year |
So if you want timely updates, the website is the place to check; if you want the print edition, look for it on Thursdays while classes are in session.
Why it exists beyond the news
The publication has an explicit educational mission: it provides students with opportunities to gain professional experience. That means the Beacon functions as both a news outlet for readers and a working newsroom for Emerson students — reporting, editing, photography, and production are all learning-by-doing roles.
Who it's for
- Emerson students, faculty, and staff who want independent coverage of their campus
- Prospective students and families trying to understand Emerson culture and current issues
- Boston-area readers interested in local stories with a campus perspective
- Student journalists looking at how a student-run paper operates
If you need official college announcements, check Emerson's own channels — the Beacon is independent, so its reporting may differ from or go beyond what the college itself publishes.