Explaining our coverage

We are hurting.

Like many students around campus, The Daily Tar Heel is struggling to come to grips with the loss of our classmate, Courtland Smith.

You have every right to question how we’ve covered the issue, and you have exercised it. That’s why I wanted to explain why we’ve reported the way we have.

Because the situation is so painful, we’re even more mindful of our role in the community as we report on it. We have worked hard to avoid any sensationalism and have always kept in mind that the people most affected by our coverage are our friends and neighbors.

We, like everyone else, are searching for answers. Especially in this case, when so much is unknown, it’s hard to come to grips with what happened.

We want to do everything we can to answer the questions you need answered.

The decision to post the 911 call was not an automatic one, and I knew it would be controversial.

We posted the tape to help as we all struggle to make sense of the tragedy. If listening to the tape will be able to help you understand what happened, please listen.

We’ve also decided to not allow comments on stories online about Courtland after receiving hateful messages. While we want interaction between readers and the newsroom, allowing these comments would be irresponsible.

We want to be able to paint a picture of who he was and how he will be remembered. If you have memories of Courtland Smith, please share them with us by e-mail at udesk@unc.edu. You can also call (919) 962-0372.