Serving the students and the University community since 1893

The Daily Tar Heel www.dailytarheel.com

Join the best team MISSION

in college journalism.
The Daily Tar Heel’s mission is two-
fold. First, it seeks to serve the state,
local and University community by
producing timely, balanced, informa-
who we are tive coverage that is responsive to our
readership and advances the news.
The Daily Tar Heel is UNC’s independent student Second, it provides future professional
journalists the opportunity to learn
newspaper. Founded in 1893, it became a daily and experiment with their craft and,
newspaper in 1929. The DTH covers University news and ideally, a progressive model for the
rapidly changing industry.
sports, as well as Orange County and higher education.
The Daily Tar Heel is a nonprofit organization. It stopped taking student fees in 1993 and is fully funded by its advertis-
ing revenue, thus making it both fiscally and editorially independent. The student journalists are solely responsible for
all content under the direction of the student editor-in-chief. The paper circulates 18,000 free copies each publishing
day during the regular academic year to distribution locations throughout campus, Chapel Hill, Carrboro, Durham and Hills-
borough, making it the largest community newspaper in the area with an estimated readership of 38,000.

This summer, the DTH left its home of almost 30 years for a new off-campus location. The new DTH is located at 151 E.
Rosemary St.
The editor-in-chief oversees the newsroom and is ultimately responsible for all content. She serves as the public face of the
paper. The editor also hires the rest of the staff, which includes the managing editors, the opinion editor and editors
for each of the newsroom’s desks.
Arts: Focused on the University but also extending to arts-related coverage in the town and greater Triangle area.
City: Chapel Hill, Carrboro and some parts of Orange and Chatham counties.
Copy: Edits content, checks facts, writes headlines.
Design: Lays out the pages to present the news in attractive, engaging ways.
Diversions: Thursday entertainment section focused on local artists. Includes movie and album reviews, columns, calendars and
local entertainment news.
Editorial board and columnists: Hired at the end of each semester in a separate application process.
Graphics: Creates graphics, illustrations and charts.
Multimedia: Brings together different forms of storytelling (photos, words, video, graphics, audio).
Online: Produces dailytarheel.com.
Photo: Takes and edits pictures.
Sports: UNC sports only.
State & National: News from the state and the nation that has a local impact, with an emphasis on the UNC system.
University: All campus news except sports.
“Regardless of whether people want to get into Interest Meetings
journalism or are just looking for something to do Come meet the editors and
on the side for fun, the DTH can be the place for all ask questions.
those interests to meet. You can put in as much as you All meetings are at 5:30 p.m.:
want to get out; if you’re not serious about becoming Jan. 12: DTH office, 151 E. Rosemary St.
Jan. 18: DTH office, 151 E. Rosemary St.
a serious journalist there’s still a place for you at the
DTH — and if you want to become the next editor of
Questions? contact
the New York Times, well, the DTH is the place to start Editor-in-Chief
and to rise in the ranks.” Sarah Frier
shannan bowen, worked at the DTH all four years, and served as Investigative Team editor editor@dailytarheel.com
before graduating in 2006. She is a reporter at The Wilmington Star-News.

Q: Do I need any previous experience on a newspaper?

A: No. The Daily Tar Heel is a teaching paper, and the editors are ready and willing to help new staff members learn new
skills. We will teach you how to do anything on the paper that you want to learn how to do. If you worked for your high
school paper or another campus paper you can include some of those clips with your application, but it is not necessary.
Applicants should provide a sample of their work specific to the desks applied for.

Q: What positions are available?

A: New staff members can apply to any of the following desks: University, City, State & National, Arts, Sports, Diversions,
Copy, Photo, Design, Graphics, Online, Multimedia.

Q: What is the time commitment?

A: Each desk is structured differently. In most cases, freshman staffers will work one day per week their first semester,
and others will work two days per week. Joining the DTH is something you can do in addition to other activities on cam-
pus. You will be able to choose your own work days to fit the DTH in with your class schedule. If you work on the news
desks (University, City, or State & National) you should come into the office first thing in the morning to get your assign-
ment and begin working. You are expected to update your editors on your story throughout the day.

Q: Will I get the desk I want?

A: The application asks you to prioritize your top three desk choices. If you don't get your first choice, there's a process
for switching desks after a semester.

Q: Where is the newsroom?

A: The new DTH is on the bottom floor of 151 E. Rosemary St. That’s behind the Franklin Street post office.

Q: Can I join other groups?

A: Yes. The DTH does not want to limit your opportunities, although your activities cannot violate the conflict of interest
policy. As a general rule, you cannot be a member of Student Government, and you cannot hold a top leadership posi-
tion in any group. If you have questions about groups you belong to, talk to the editor or a managing editor about your
specific case.
 The Daily Tar Heel
staff application
SPRING 2011
Fill out this application on a separate sheet of paper and return it to the DTH at 151 E. Rosemary St.
The DTH is organized by desks, and any questions you have would be best answered by the editor
of the desk that interests you. If you general questions, feel free to contact DTH Editor Sarah Frier at
editor@dailytarheel.com or newsroom adviser Erica Perel at perel@email.unc.edu.

Learn more about the newspaper and meet the editors at one of two interest meetings:
5:30 p.m. on Jan. 12 in the DTH conference room at 151 E. Rosemary St.
5:30 p.m. on Jan. 18 in the DTH conference room at 151 E. Rosemary St.

Applications are due by 5 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 21.

We will post a full list of new staff in the paper’s front office by Noon, MONDAY, JAN. 24
Mandatory orientation will be SATURDAY, Jan. 29.
Name:
E-mail:
Phone number:
Local address:
Class/Year:
Major(s):

For a description of each desk, please see the attached page. Which desk, in order of preference
would you like to work for? Please note any special interests you might like to cover.

1._____________________ 2.______________________ 3.______________________

1. List any past journalism/writing/visual/digital experience, including jobs and classes taken. (This is
NOT a requirement; any interested student should apply.)

2. List your extracurricular activities, including jobs and leadership positions, for this semester and
the next. Students can be involved with other student groups as long as they follow the conflict of
interest policy (see attached). If you need the policy clarified, contact Editor Sarah Frier.

3. What qualities, interests, skills, fields of expertise and viewpoints can you offer the DTH?

4. In what areas do you think the DTH can improve?

5. Attach at least one sample of your work. Relevant work samples help determine placement. Non-
writing desk applicants can attach a CD or include a website URL where the work can be found.
Multimedia applicants can include work from any digital storytelling media.
Applicants without work samples can cover a campus event or write a sample story. See attached
page for details.
 The Daily Tar Heel
staff application (continued)
SPRING 2011
Applicants without work samples should write a sample story from the two prompts provided, or cover an event from the
list provided below:

Sample story prompts:

1. Write a 300 word profile on your roommate or your best friend. For a good example of a feature story, go online to
read: http://bit.ly/eFNyiL
a. Get at least 2 sources besides your roommate/friend
b. Start with an engaging lead (e.g. a story about them)
c. Include name, year, hometown, major (or undecided). Passions, interests, and involvement at UNC are good starters
too.

2. Write a 10-sentence or less story from the following (fictitious) facts and quotes (you do not have to include all details).
For a good example of a breaking news story, go online to read: http://bit.ly/hT4eeH.
a. An earthquake of magnitude 3.1 hit UNC at 1:38 p.m. on Jan. 17, 2010. Davis Library was severely damaged, as well
as Lenoir Hall and Murphey Hall. Six other buildings sustained minor damage.
b. No one was killed. 13 students and 7 faculty members and 5 employees were taken to the hospital with minor to
severe injuries.
c. From USGS North Carolina Earthquake history: This is the first earthquake in North Carolina since 1970, and the
largest and most destructive since the August 31, 1886, Charleston, South Carolina Shock, which killed 60 people and
threw down chimneys and walls in North Carolina.
d. You talked to student Ellen Myers, junior, from Cary, N.C., who was trapped in Lenoir Mainstreet when the ceiling
caved in while she was eating lunch. She had cuts and bruises on her arms, legs, and face, a sprained right wrist and a
minor concussion. Here are her quotes:
“I knew I should have gone on that ski trip! My roommate invited me but I backed out at the last minute to study. Who
would have thought?” …
“I had just gotten some 1.5.0 and was about to sit down and eat inside since it’s so darn cold outside when the whole
place starts shaking and people are screaming. People were running for the door like the place was on fire. As I got up
to leave a big shock hit and the ceiling caved in. Next thing I knew I’m on the ground under one of those metal beams
and sheetrock and a table and it’s just a mess.”…
“I feel like I’m the unluckiest person in the world. Like that girl the tree fell on last year.” …
“At first it was terrifying, and then when I realized I was gonna be okay, it was just ironic. Painfully ironic.”
e. You call scientist Philip Robertson at the US Geological Survey and he says this:
“Earthquakes are very unusual in North Carolina, and on the rare occasion that they do happen, they are usually not this
destructive. Since Chapel Hill does not lie near North Carolina’s only major fault line – the Brevard Fault in the mountains,
a rather inactive one at that – it’s not something the local government is well prepared to respond to.”
f. UNC Chancellor Holden Thorp says: “It is important that we as a University and a community come together to sup-
port those who have suffered from this catastrophe. Through teamwork and innovation we will repair and rebuild and
become stronger than ever.”
g. You interview another student named Tom Brown, sophomore, from Wilmington, who was in the Pit when the earth-
quake hit: “I just think it’s funny that Davis is the one that got hit. It’s a sign or something – don’t study this semester.”
“At least Davie Poplar is still standing.”

Event coverage:
Cover an event listed below and write a short story. Remember to look for news and details that describe the event and
capture full quotes.
For an example of a good event story, go online to read: http://bit.ly/gvNUz2

-Kevin Boyle: “History Redemption: Civil Rights, History and the Promise of America.” 4 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 18 at the
George Watts Hill Alumni Center.
-Soledad O’Brien: “30th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Lecture.” 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 18 at Memorial
Hall.
-Terrence Roberts: “Lessons from Little Rock.” 5 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 20 at the Great Hall of the Student Union.
 DTH Staff Policies

All staff members are required to sign their agreement with these policies before beginning work,
and violation of any part of them is grounds for dismissal.

Code of Ethics

As the primary barons of our area's news and information, we must always mind our public image
and the perception the public holds of us. The best way we can ensure that that image is
safeguarded and our product is clean is to be unwavering in our stance on ethical decision-
making, to make that stance as transparent as possible and to address reader concerns about ethics
and all other content decisions. The DTH also follows the Society of Professional Journalists’
ethical standards, which key on seeking truth and reporting it, minimizing harm, acting
independently and being accountable.

Our priorities:

* We are committed to truth and accuracy. Without accuracy, we lack credibility and readers'
trust -- the foundation of our business. We do not plagiarize and unfairly accept others'
information as our own. All information we obtain from other sources will be correctly attributed.
* We are focused on fair, impartial treatment of readers, sources and advertisers.
* We are as open and accountable to our readers as possible. We publish our names and contact
information in every day's paper and on our Web site, and we must encourage reader participation
and feedback. Especially incumbent upon us is a goal of involving those seldom-heard voices
among our community.
* We promise to admit when we mess up. When we make a mistake, the only way we can save
our credibility is to admit that we made it, apologize and take steps to keep it from happening
again.
* We are dedicated to suggesting change and call out societal wrongs. Through editorials and
clearly labeled commentaries, we add our voice to a public forum that involves and engages as
many readers as possible - especially those who disagree with us.
* We are not afraid to get involved in our community. Our conflict of interest policy helps
guide how we as objective journalists gather the news, but we encourage our employees to
become active in charitable and civic activities.

Conflict of Interest Policy

Desk editors have the power to fire staff members who violate the Conflict of Interest Policy.
Appeals may be made to the editor-in-chief, who is the final arbiter of what constitutes a conflict
of interest.

* No staff member outside of the opinion section may participate on any of student
government's three branches or in any administrative capacity. This includes any student
government committees, RHA, Senior Marshals and the CAA. Opinion desk staff are permitted to
have a small role in certain borderline organizations, but such involvement must be cleared by the
editor-in-chief.
* Staff members should not make the news. We offer the following guidelines for our staff:
- Don't participate in rallies, protests, demonstrations or controversies. Active and public
participation in political events damages the organization's credibility and destroys any chance of
defending our stance as being unbiased.
- Do not make any public comments or participate in media interviews without talking first to the
editor. Staffers will be encouraged to give interviews related to their stories and serve as experts
in their fields.
- It is acceptable to sign petitions that directly influence the democratic process, e.g. a petition to
get a bond referendum on the ballot; however, staff members are prohibited from signing
petitions that have the purpose of expressing a particular viewpoint or that have a political
agenda.
- While on duty for an assignment, the responsibility to stay out of the action is heightened.
- Staff members will remember that online forums are public, too. Do not publish political views
on blogs or social networking sites and profiles. This includes the Facebook “causes” application
for any partisan causes. In general, avoid showing your hand. Refer to the social media policy as
well.
- Reporters cannot cover a story where they are friends with or are affiliated with anyone
involved in that story. Reporters should be comfortable with their sources but should not go past
a source/reporter relationship with anyone involved in that story because it can undermine the
credibility of the DTH. Under no circumstances should a reporter interview a roommate or close
friend. Refer to the social media policy for more on appropriate online relationships with sources.
-Staff members may work for other campus or community publications or news organizations,
although duties must not overlap. For example, a University Desk reporter may not cover campus
issues for another publication and may not write editorials about University-related topics.
Additionally, reporters must understand that working at a publication that takes a clear political
stance on issues calls their objectivity as staff members of the DTH into question. As such, staff
members are prohibited from working for a publication that has a stated political agenda, eg. The
Carolina Review. Refer to the alternate publications policy for more information.
* Reporters must always remember to identify themselves as DTH reporters while on
assignment. Misrepresenting, or not representing, a reporter's role for an article is not acceptable.
* The DTH takes seriously its unbiased stance, and editors must be informed if any staff
member takes a prominent leadership position in another campus group. Working at the DTH
does not preclude staff members from membership in other campus groups. But we ask that no
staff member or editor take on any prominent leadership position in another campus group unless
cleared by the editor-in-chief. Though the DTH applauds student involvement in campus
activities and organizations, we don't want to put ourselves into the uncomfortable position of
relying on members of our own staff as sources for our stories. If a staff member applies for a
leadership position that could place him or her at odds with this policy if hired, that staff member
must inform his or her editor before submitting the application to avoid the appearance of a
conflict. In all circumstances of doubt regarding following this policy, staff members should
consult an editor. If any controversy arises, the editor-in-chief will determine the appropriate
course of action.
* Anyone who works as a columnist, cartoonist, Opinion Editor and/or associate editor is not
eligible to concurrently join the staff as a reporter or editor. Members of the opinion staff can
become reporters provided that they do not cover stories or sources on which they’ve opined.
* During student elections, staff members may not sign any candidate's petition and may not
participate in any campaign activities. Furthermore, involvement in social activities with
candidates or members of campaigns during student elections is strongly discouraged and can
result in probation or termination. Though the DTH does not in any way want to restrict the
political thought or social lives of staff members, student election season is a particularly
sensitive time on campus, and the DTH, as the only news organization that comprehensively
covers the race, must work overtime to be objective. The organization's integrity is compromised
not only when staff members express a public preference for a particular candidate but also when
staff members fraternize with campaigners and/or candidates during such a pivotal time.
* No DTH journalist is for sale. We do not use our positions to gain personal advantages or
considerations not available to the general public. For those reasons, we cannot accept gifts or
any form of contribution from a source that is not available to the general public. Gifts can take
the form of meal payments, gift bags, etc. In all cases, our staff members politely return the gift.
 * The DTH encourages employees to become involved in community activities and to donate
time to civic and charity organizations as long as they are not part of that staffers' primary
coverage area. Ethical guidelines should not be regarded as a barrier to being a good citizen in the
community, but we must remain steadfast in our objectivity.
* The DTH subscribes to a full-disclosure philosophy that asks each staff member to notify his
or her desk editor of all affiliations and involvements outside of the paper to help avoid conflicts
of interest. Failure to disclose any involvements could result in immediate dismissal from staff.
* It is important to remember that conflicts of interest can be avoided by simply using common
sense. Staff members must ask themselves: “Does doing/saying this or being here undermine my
stance as an objective reporter? Would anyone trust my objectivity less after seeing/hearing me?”
Any doubts, questions or concerns should be brought to the attention of the editor-in-chief.

Election Season Policy

We do not wish to alienate any politically minded staff members, and we make decisions
regarding political activity and campaign materials for the good of the paper. Our rationale is
based on the organization's integrity and the need for objectivity and a nonpartisan persona during
a particularly heated election season.

All staff members, except those who work for the opinion section, should not publicly announce
their political beliefs or affiliations. This certainly does not mean that staff members cannot join
organizations such as the Young Democrats or the College Republicans (although writers on the
State & National Desk cannot do so, per the desk’s specialized conflict of interest policy), it does
means that staff members should refrain from endorsing or lobbying for a particular candidate or
speaking out publicly on particular issues in even the most mundane of visible ways.

Accordingly, we ask that staff members not post their candidate preferences or political views in
forums including but not limited to:

* Bumper stickers
* Stickers, pins, patches, etc. on a staff member’s person or personal effects
* AIM profiles or profiles used in comparable programs
* E-mail signatures
* Personal blogs or social media accounts (see alternate publications and social media policies)

It is acceptable to sign petitions that directly influence the democratic process, e.g. a petition to
get a bond referendum on the ballot; however, staff members are prohibited from signing
petitions that have the purpose of expressing a particular viewpoint or that have a strong political
agenda, such as a petition for a moratorium on the death penalty.

We neither desire to nor intend to censor any member of the DTH’s staff -- to do so would be
antithetical to the paper’s mission, history and ideals. We like to think of this policy as one of
common sense and self-discipline. We want staff members to be able to discuss issues and we
don’t naively assume that you are inherently objective. However, we also don’t want staffers with
bumper stickers or other materials or staffers with public views to lead people to identify the
paper as being in any way partisan. That said, there’s nothing wrong with staff members talking
to their friends about politics or with quietly attending campus- or community-based meetings.
We do not begrudge anyone his or her beliefs, and we often, in fact, tend to empathize with those
who feel strongly about issues. There is, however, a problem with saying or doing things in such
a manner that you reveal staff members' hands. We’d like to avoid that.
I have read and understand these policies and agree to work by them:

Name