Harris gained extensive journalistic experience in the southern states, including working as sub-editor at The Federal Australian in Melbourne, before joining the staff of The Townsville Daily Bulletin in 1884. After simultaneously serving as editor of The Daily Northern Standard, The Northern Echo, and The Northern World, he launched The Croydon Miner in 1887. A well-respected member of the community, Harris was elected as a member of the Croydon Divisional Board in 1888, and served as a Commissioner of the Peace in both Townsville and Croydon.
Moving to Brisbane, Harris joined the staff of The Brisbane Courier, before serving as editor of The Rockhampton Argus and, from 1897, The Mount Morgan Chronicle. In 1898 he travelled to the Gulf, Cairns, Mareeba, Chillagoe, and Etheridge as the special representative of The Townsville Herald to gather information for a special illustrated edition of The North Queensland Herald. Harris then launched and edited The Geraldton World in 1899.
At one stage of his career, Harris was also a prolific short story writer whose work was published in newspapers including The North Queensland Register both under his own name and under the pen-names 'Lord Harris,' and 'The Dook.'
Source: James Manion Paper Power in North Queensland: A History of Journalism in Townsville and Charters Towers Townsville: The North Queensland Newspaper Company, 1982
