Sharif Durhams Leadership Program

The Sharif Durhams Leadership Program at The Daily Tar Heel serves as a talent and leadership development course for DTH students from underrepresented groups.

 

These groups include, but are not limited to: students of color and indigenous students, students with disabilities, first-generation college students and student veterans.

 

The program's goals are to create equity, inclusion and opportunity at The Daily Tar Heel and to connect students to professional opportunities upon graduation. There will also be involvement with the DEI committee. 

 

Program features and goals: programming throughout the school year with cohort members; a mentorship relationship and career prep opportunities; monthly classes which require 75 percent attendance; and connections for students in the cohort with paid summer internships.

Staff Policies:

All staff members are required to certify their agreement with these policies before beginning work. Please read carefully. Violation of any part of them is grounds for dismissal.

The DTH is organized by desks, and any questions you have would be best answered by the editor of the desk that interests you.

Here is a brief description of each desk:

Audience Engagement: Expands and engages readership by creating content for Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, newsletters and other digital channels.

• If you have questions about Audience Engagement, contact Audience Engagement Editor Viyathma Hapuarachchi at online@dailytarheel.com.

Audio & Video: The Audio & Video team will work with reporters across desks to produce content as well as standalone audio/video content for the publication's online audiences.

• If you have questions about Audio & Video, contact Audio & Video Editor Natalie Bradin at audio@dailytarheel.com. 

Copy: Edits online and print content for clarity, accuracy and style. Checks facts, works on print production, writes headlines/decks.

• If you have questions about Copy, contact Copy Chief Emily Gessner and Deputy Copy Chief Maggie McNinch at copy@dailytarheel.com.

City & State: Reports on Chapel Hill, Carrboro, Orange County and North Carolina news, including business, politics, education, the environment, housing, public safety and general local news.

• If you have questions about City & State, contact City & State Editor Lucy Marques at city@dailytarheel.com.

Data: Creates data visualizations (graphs, charts, etc), combs through and cleans data archives, has the freedom to pursue independent data-driven journalism projects. Please note the additional Data-specific questions below.

• If you have questions about Data, contact Data editor Surabhi Damle at records@dailytarheel.com.  

Design: Designs newspaper pages to present photos, stories and headlines in attractive, engaging ways. Creates graphics, illustrations and charts for print and online.

• If you have questions about Design, contact Design Editor Carrie-Anne Rogers at design@dailytarheel.com. 

Lifestyle: Reports on arts, culture, fashion, entertainment, community events, on UNC's campus, in Chapel Hill, Carrboro, Orange County, North Carolina. Reviews productions, new businesses, music, etc.

• If you have questions about Lifestyle, contact Lifestyle Editor Brigit Pierce at lifestyle@dailytarheel. 

Photography: Takes photos of news, sports and community events. Illustrates news stories through photojournalism. Photos appear in print and online.

• If you have questions about Photo, contact Photo Editor Heather Diehl at photo@dailytarheel.com. 

Sports: Covers all 27 varsity sports as well as club sports on occasion. Reports on the UNC athletic department and sports’ larger role in Chapel Hill.

• If you have questions about Sports, contact Sports Editor Caroline Wills at sports@dailytarheel.com. 

University: Reports on all campus news except sports, including student life, UNC administration, student government, housing, academics, research, dining, campus safety.

• If you have questions about University, contact university editor Ananya Cox at university@dailytarheel.com. 

Opinion: Made up of editorial board members, columnists and cartoonists. Editoral Board members meet weekly and write collaboratively on a piece. Cartoonists and Columnists pitch ideas to the editor. 

• If you have questions about Opinion, contact Opinion Editor Connor Foote at opinion@dailytarheel.com.

 

Work samples are required to assess an applicant's skill level prior to joining the staff.

 

Applicants for reporting/writing positions should submit 1-3 writing samples. This can be published work from a previous news organization, a piece of creative writing, an article written for a journalism class, etc. If submitting individual work samples, please combine them into one document. 

 

Applicants for positions on the Photo, Audio & Video, Data or Design desks must provide work samples in the appropriate medium either by linking to an online portfolio (Instagram or other social media accounts are acceptable) or by submitting 1-3 work samples. If submitting individual work samples, please combine them into one document.

 

Copy desk applicants should edit the sample article found HERE for grammar, spelling and clarity, as well as write a headline for the article. Please make a copy of the Google Doc, make your changes and upload your edited version below.