Moving to the future

–Make the Web site every student’s home page. One big step toward this is putting the weather forecast and current conditions more prominent above the headlines. This also includes more cross-promotion between the print and online product.
–Make the blogs a must-read. This most importantly involves a redesign to improve readability. Give them greater play on the Web site. Give them themes: “In the Pit,” or an updated “Editor’s Blog” with reader feedback. Experiment with simply a roving blogger.
–Put more video on the Web site. This can mean independent stories, but should also be taken advantage of whenever a print story has a powerful visual angle. We have hundreds of electronic communication students at UNC; it should be easy to find interested workers. We could finance new equipment through 15 second ads before videos.
–Introduce more photo galleries, linked to online stories and promoted in the paper. If photogs are going, use their photos. If not, encourage the reporter to snap some pictures with his or her digital camera. For popular events, solicit and post reader photos.
–In folo stories, link to the past stories on the Web site. Link multimedia and photos to the online story, and make these links noticeable.
–Revise and promote the e-mail edition.

In the paper

–Put more emphasis in getting feature stories on the front page. The features section should have a good feel for the pulse of the student body – what they want to read.
–Create a monthly feature containing take-out stories and longer profile pieces. A society of future magazine editors just opened on campus; the interest is there. Print these as a package on one page of the print product and/or create a readable online magazine.
–Expand the weather section. By the time people pick up the paper, they’re dressed for the day. We need to have tomorrow’s weather in there.
–Experiment with using the ears of the newspaper for inside or online promos.
–Evaluate City coverage to make sure we’re filling a need. What do local students and professors want out of this desk? This would take a readership survey or a public forum.
–Have the Public Editor be more involved. He or she should write a bi-weekly column and be more of an advocate for readers or an ombudsman.
–Create a weekly Q and A “People in the news” piece by the features desk.
–For yearly stories, put a fresh spin on them by choosing a more personal angle. For example, for the Dook game city story, follow a police man through the night. On the first snow, city could talk to the guy in charge of making the call on public schools
–Eliminate the split-verb rule, except with infinitives.

In the newsroom

–Streamline the editing process. Happy writers are more likely to be productive. Desk editors should make sign up sheets for reading time appointments. Try to stay on schedule as much as possible.
–Experiment with eliminating pre-budget. Reports would instead be filed through InCopy. Editor would review the reports and make calls as necessary. Each desk would identify page one and page three package material. A final, comprehensive pre-budget report would be sent out on the Editor’s Inbox listserv.
–With every story written, reporter should be expected and highly encouraged to come up with two new story ideas.
–Make enrichments featuring student government and faculty leaders to give new writers a better sense of how the University operates.
–Send out the prebudget report to all writers on the desk. That way every staffer will know what is going on with the desk and be generally knowledgeable when taking phone calls.

Other

–Develop a state-of-the-art online store. Sell photo reprints, glossy copies of front pages and merchandise. Promote on Web site and in print product.
–Put together a bound collection of news clippings from basketball championship seasons. Find a way to subsidize prices to students through unassuming advertisements. Sell in the online store.
–Continue to look into acquiring more office space for the DTH.
–Continue the editor’s radio show with WCHL.

The Daily Tar Heel has a proud 114-year tradition of serving the University community. But to do this well, the DTH must constantly examine its practices and strive to be better. This platform is the culmination of almost three years of observation and active participation in the direction of the newspaper. As a result, all of these planks can be put into practice.
Under my leadership, the DTH will continue to push the envelope by revamping its Web site and reinvigorating its enterprising coverage. The newspaper also will shore up its teaching mission and ensure the DTH is accurate and accountable.

Information Central

The DTH’s physical product might have its limits, but the newspaper can serve readers by revamping its Web site, making the site a cutting-edge source of information.
– Individualized Web pages for news desks will be created. These pages will serve as information and resource centers and will include “know your University” and “know your community” sections.
*Information will be posted about University and community leaders and organizations through the compilation of online desk handbooks. Links also will be provided to helpful Web sites, so readers will know where to turn.
*News articles will be placed on these pages. Links to archived related articles will be provided when applicable.
*Special features such as podcasts and video segments will be increased and included on the appropriate Web pages.
– Online special sections will be increased. These sections should be put together for events such as municipal elections, tuition decisions and the NCAA Tournament.
-– The organization’s transparency will be improved. I will update the editor’s blog on a weekly basis, as well as when needed. This will give our readers insight into the newspaper’s daily operations.
*The use of other blogs more consistently will be encouraged to engage more readers.
*Corrections that appear in the paper edition of the DTH will make their way online. Corrections will appear online in their own section, as well as with articles. An accuracy report will be made available online each semester.
– An avenue will be created on the DTH’s Web site to give the University community and the extended community a place to share their own news. This site will be updated weekly, and users can submit announcements and news, such as impending retirements and marriages or the results of their club soccer team.

The product

-– The DTH will refocus to use more alternative story formats. Graphics and informational pullouts still will be used, but I will emphasize how bodies of text can be broken up to be made more accessible.
– I will re-examine where anchored stories run in the newspaper. In certain situations, news dictates that anchored stories run in a lower spot.
– The investigative team re-emerged this year and began to reinvigorate the DTH’s enterprising coverage, but more must be done.
*The investigative team editor will lead enterprising projects for all desks. Desk editors will have the option to send writers who are working on long-term stories to meet with the investigative team editor.
*The investigative team will follow through with its plan to conduct polls to assess community opinions.
*The team will bump up coverage of Chapel Hill and Carrboro. Stories that dig deeper regarding the economies and education system of the community must increase.
*Business news and coverage of UNC Hospitals will be led by the investigative team.
– Feature stories about Chapel Hill and Carrboro will increase. We need to delve beyond Franklin Street and capture the spirit and achievements of the community.
– The State & National Desk will be smaller than the City Desk, and analysis will be the primary focus.
– Monthly multimedia profiles of community newsmakers will be introduced.
– More photo stories will be included, and the newspaper will work to be more innovative with inside pages and their design.
– More graphic illustrations and experimental design for the newspaper’s front page will be encouraged.
– The opinion page will continue to employ better reporting techniques. The editorial board is most effective when it does its own legwork, and this will be encouraged, especially for issues such as tuition, town planning and elections.
– I will review the DTH stylebook with copy editors.

Newsroom management

– The DTH demands that its sources and the community be accountable for their actions, and the newspaper must offer the same in return. To do so I will ensure a member of management meets with each desk on a monthly basis. That way, desk editors will keep their promises. The member of management who meets with each desk will rotate.
– Management will hold weekly meetings to ensure the newspaper is headed in the right direction. Meetings for editors of all desks will be held twice a semester.
– The managing editor and the editor will hold office hours, ensuring someone has time devoted to readers each day.
– The deputy managing editor will continue as the morning editor and will be responsible for tabs and Diversions. The DME, along with writing coaches, will lead newsroom recruitment efforts and assemble an internship notebook.
– As editor, I will review the pay levels of all employees to ensure that compensation equates with responsibility and effort.
– I will be unbiased and waive my right to vote on the editorial board.

Teaching focus

– As editor, I will ensure teaching and learning is emphasized in all corners of the newsroom. I will create a monthly photo training session during which writers will be trained to use photography equipment.
– Required enrichments will be reinstated. Staff writers will attend two enrichments, one of which must focus on writing and the other on visual elements of the newspaper.
– Staffers will be trained for the 21st century with the increased use of podcasts and blogs to engage readers.
– Members of the editorial board will undergo a training session similar to the orientation staff writers complete.
– I will establish monthly training sessions for editors. Learning doesn’t stop when staffers rise in the ranks. I will draw on journalism professors and other professionals to lead enrichments that focus on the editing process and leadership skills.
– Varied sources will be asked to critique the newspaper on a weekly basis.

Community connections

– As editor, I will serve as the public face of the DTH, but I will emphasize that I am not the only face, and that the newsroom is accountable from the top down.
– The public editor and I will assemble focus groups throughout the year to examine the DTH’s coverage in a number of areas, including minority affairs, higher education and the arts. I will be proactive in seeking opinions and suggestions from readers.
– The public editor’s role will be more transparent to the newsroom. Weekly e-mails will be sent out to staff reporting community opinions.
– Desks will emphasize beats and a certain degree of specialization when needed to ensure good source relations and consistent coverage.
– I will continue to partner with local radio stations to promote the DTH.
– The DTH will sponsor election forums and partner with Vote Carolina to create comprehensive voter guides.
– I will seek to invigorate a mentorship program with Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools to provide feedback to these students.
– Relations with other campus media will be improved.

It was a tremendous honor to be tapped for the Order of the Golden Fleece on Sunday. Allie Rosenbaum wrote a solid story on it (one that I did not read prior to publication given my involvement in the group).

To be Argonaut #1799 means that since 1903 the group, considered the highest honor for a member of the UNC community, and to share affiliation with John Sanders, Chuck Stone and Michael Jordan is tremendous. What makes it even better is that my induction class (sounds like I’m going to Canton) is filled with people whom I respect incredibly. Among them are Chancellor James Moeser (my number is before his!), Provost Bernadette Gray-Little (she actually left South Building for the tapping), Ivory Latta in abstentia (I couldn’t believe the Sweet 16 was more important than the ceremony) and our fearless leader Student Body President James Allred, among many other students.

So when Timothy Reese, our photographer who covered the story who also is doing a photo story on my life for his journalism class, came back to the newsroom with his photos I was eager to see what he captured. The above photo, which was taken as they announced Allred’s accomplishments, is classic in showing that a DTH editor should always lurk in the shadows of the SBP and always question their achievements, even in their proudest moments. I didn’t mean to look like an undercover operative, and I’m not sure why I look so skeptical, but Reese got a great take here, and I hope it embodies what I’m about.

-Joe

I’m back. Student Body President James Allred released his March Report on Tuesday, a compendium of his year’s work with self-review, analysis and future advice for his 83-point platform. The report, issued each year by the lame-duck student body president, is vital as the transient nature of the student government often can cause repeated mistakes if they aren’t first documented. It sounds a bit like the DTH, and I’ve decided to issue a similar report before the month’s end.

I can’t top the cleverness of Allred, who bound his report in red paper (given my extraordinarily Jewish last name I can wrap mine in rye bread), but I hope that my reflections will be of equal value to our next editor, either University Editor Erin Zureick or Assistant University Editor Andrew Dunn, who will both interview on March 31. Someone asked me last week what I wish I knew before I was editor. I’ll address that in the report. I agree with Allred, who said it took him 75 percent of the year to feel fully settled. My hope is to decrease the learning curve.

I’ll post the report in several installments on this blog. It will help address one of the key shortcomings of my term, the fact that I haven’t had a new post in weeks.

Too bad they are missing out at Fox News. The organization slammed “the student newspaper at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill” for its coverage of the protest to a military recruitment center in Chapel Hill. It’s true, we did cover it. Tracey Theret wrote a superbly balanaced article that quoted both protesters and veterans. But Fox took asserted that “The research-challenged author of the article said the SDS ‘is known for supporting peaceful anti-war movements and participatory democracy.’” Tracey’s story contained no such sentence, a piece by The Technician — our colleagues at N.C. State — does. Fox even links to N.C. State’s site, which is fitted with a red decor. So who’s the research-challneged author here?

-Joe

As most of you probably know from reading his column today, Jeff Smith decided to step down effective immediately to pursue both looming classwork and unforseen requirements. He’ll be missed not only for the quality that he brought to the back page, but also for his wit and off-beat humor. As he wrote in his column, the page might not be as funny as it was during his tenure, but it’ll be just as aggressive and well reasoned.

Jeff also makes it clear that he didn’t expect to get his job and that he thought I was joking when I hired him. Admittedly, I knew I was taking a chance when I gave him the reins of the page. When selecting someone for a post with as much power as opinion editor, one must consider if they are looking for a candidate with the highest possible gain — one willing to take risks and be bold often at the expense of steadiness — or with the lowest possible loss — one who will be dependable and productive often at the expense of liveliness. At most we have one year at our jobs, and taking that into consideration I took a chance on Jeff. It was kind of like taking a high schooler in the NBA draft because of his upside.

I don’t regret it.

He delivered in making the page less reactionary, more analytical and more readable. He asserted himself in questioning desk editors when he was unsure on an issue. He added more to our quote file than any other member.

It was a good, albeit short, run. I think the paper is better today for having Jeff at the head of its page. I look forward to seeing it grow under Jessica Scism’s hand and know that the board will build upon what Jeff started.

We’ve been following four freshmen this year to cover the phenomenon that is the dreaded “freshman 15.” Nikki Werking, 2004-05 deputy managing editor, warned me of a similar trend last year when I took on the role of managing editor — “The Management 15.” She explained that spending every waking moment in the newsroom meant eating fatty take-out food and not exercising (in fact rarely even standing). In years past we’ve seen many of our management members balloon. It happened to me last year.

So I was a bit surprised when I went to the doctor the other day. Somehow I’ve bucked the trend and actually lost 15 pounds since August despite not being able to recall any athletic activity sans for climbing over the brick wall that divides the ATMs from our office.

I don’t know what to attribute it to. Stress? I’m told that’s supposed to add weight. Not being able to eat dinner because I’m bogged down working? I usually just eat after work, which I’m also told isn’t the best idea. I did make an effort in the first few weeks to bring food from home, but that quickly subsided as I saw colleagues devouring Chinese food three times weekly.

I don’t know what it is, but it seems to be working. Thanks DTH diet.

When the Arkansas Razorbacks played the Auburn Tigers on Saturday afternoon more was at stake than first place in the SEC West. I, a loyal Arkansas fan given it’s my father’s home state, and Journalism Professor Chris Roush, an Auburn alum, had a wager. I got Arkansas and the 15 points they were given as underdog against No. 2 Auburn at home. One of us was going to be shamed during Economics Reporting on Tuesday by wearing ridiculous fan garb from the opposing school.

It was him.

The Hogs’ 27-10 smashing of the Tigers left me 32 points in the clear. Enter a plastic hog hat and the stipulation that it be worn throughout class. I’ve had some good times in the j school, but this pretty much takes the cake. My classmates giggled throughout the lecture, and we had a class guest who was aghast at Roush’s headwear. “I lost a bet,” he assured her. “Don’t listen to him. He wears that everyday,” quipped Zach Jepsen. High comedy indeed.

I was tempted to title this post the same as Alicia’s last ramble on dating, “Not trying is the same as failing.” The Daily Illini announced Friday that they are temporarily suspending their opinion page, a move that means the voice of students suddenly has gone mute.

“Yesterday’s apology is something that we, as the editorial board of The Daily Illini, should have never had to do, but it is a position that we have put ourselves in numerous times throughout the last couple of semesters. For this reason, The Daily Illini Editorial Board has decided to stop publishing editorials until further notice.”

It sounds like they are taking the moral high road — getting things in order before they further misinform readers. Unfortunately the news doesn’t stop.

I don’t think I could put it better than the Illini, “The newspaper editorial is a sacred institution. It is supposed to offer insight on issues, events and problems relevant to the community and serve as a watchdog against institutions of power.”

If you don’t have a desk equipped to meet that charge, changes must be made. Either bring in an accuracy guru to teach the folks you have, or just hire new ones. Neither scenario should include wiping away your ability to tell administrators they are full of it, or to lobby for basketball tickets.

The opinion page has the ability to spark interest, to stir controversy and to mobilize your readership. The Illini should know. Just last year they suspended both their editor and opinion editor for running cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammad. Then-editor Acton Gorton blasted the company ownership for their actions. “If someone’s head had to roll, it’s going to be mine,” he said. “The Daily Illini is afraid to deal with the controversy … they lack courage.”

Now it’s the editors who are look like cowardly lions. Do they expect that once they bring back the page people suddenly will trust it? Or have they walked the plank of credibility by admitting that they are unable to print a page rooted in fact? Good luck.

That strange voice you hear coming from our antenna isn’t aliens — it’s me. We’ve partnered with WCHL 1360, and the result is that I get to talk about our week of coverage on Live at Five with Dan Siler. In case you missed any of my Earth-shaking appearances, please enjoy the deep baritone found below:

Week one - the Vision

Week two - online tickets

Week three - Lord Stanley’s Cup