The Daily Tar Heel's fundamental job is to chronicle the life of the campus and greater community. As editor I will work to uphold the quality of the newspaper while heralding changes that will make the paper lead online the way it does in print.
Newsroom operations
- I will give editors ownership of their desks and expect them to extend that trust to assistant
editors and staff.
- Management will detail our specific responsibilities and share those descriptions with staff to promote accountability from the top.
- Desks will continue to discuss nightly with management and photo editors what they are working on for the next day but prebudget will not return.
- A new online enterprise meeting will be a chance to plan Web content ahead of time.
- Staffers will take greater responsibility for their work. More experienced reporters will cover beats and generate story ideas.
- Leadership training at retreat will help editors prepare for many of the situations they will face.
- Throughout the year support will be given to new editors through a peer-mentoring system. A spring retreat will give additional training.
- Individualized recruitment will target specific staffing needs.
- Training will give all staff experience in multiple disciplines including reporting audio and video gathering and editing photography and blogging.
Attracting readers
- We will better utilize pullouts graphics and images to present bite-sized information that is easy to read by students on the go. Dominant photos above the fold will attract readers.
- Articles on page three will hold to the page even if it means running fewer stories.
- I will organize an accuracy study to examine perceptions of reporting accuracy. Enrichments will help editors better identify errors while editing. Training mid-semester will tackle trends.
Fostering a Web mentality
- We will consistently publish new online content throughout the day during peak traffic times with a goal of showcasing new content three times per day.
- We will phase in two daytime online and copy staff shifts. The expectations for what desks can produce throughout the day as Web-first content will rise as the workflow becomes more familiar.
- Writing photo and graphics desks will designate one person to serve as an online liaison. These people will take a lead in teaching.
- A community manager will connect with online readers oversee commenting and use social networking to provide content on multiple platforms.
- A blog manager will oversee all blogs on dailytarheel.com" pick a ""blog entry of the day"" to promote in the print edition and work to ensure consistency.
Dailytarheel.com
- We will create topic pages for major coverage areas and major news-makers. Related content will be linked to from articles.
- Stand-alone content will serve as a go-to reference for the community. This could include a crime map" guides to UNC sports teams and a new student guide.
- Online staff will explore new ways for readers to view dailytarheel.com content including optional breaking news text alerts mobile applications and RSS feeds by desk and topic.
- We will engage readers making it possible to submit photos and videos. Online users will be able to create profile pages.
- An online style guide will ensure we are consistent with how we publish content.
- Blogs will be separated by topic and will have an individual look. I will hire bloggers but all staff will have a chance to blog.
Strengthening our content
- The investigative team will return with an editor and a group of experienced reporters. The team will be trained in computer-assisted reporting.
- A small arts desk will focus on rebuilding. They will experiment with alternative story forms.
- The copy desk will assume additional tasks of writing Web headlines and article summaries.
Ensuring editorial vigor
- Editorials will be local have clear arguments and tell readers how they can take action. I will waive my vote on the board.
- The opinion editor and I will hire and work with columnists. They will be encouraged to blog.
- Interviews to determine election endorsements will filmed and posted online.
A transparent newsroom
- I will create a reader advisory board. The board will set the agenda for a monthly meeting where they will have the attention of top editors. I will address concerns and communicate those efforts through columns and the editor's blog.
- I will hold office hours in and outside of the newsroom. I will make myself available for meetings outside those hours.
