But the choice will likely be an easy one.
Four Daily Tar Heel staff members and seven at-large students will interview junior Katie Hunter, the lone candidate for the 135th DTH editor, and vote whether to confirm her to the post.
"There is always someone out there with a burning desire to be editor," said DTH general manager Janet Gallagher-Cassel.
Each spring, editor hopefuls submit extensive applications outlining their abilities, experience and goals for the paper -- a process that was implemented eight years ago when the DTH broke away from the University.
They must endure hourlong interviews and wait for the committee to reach a final decision on which candidate is best for the job.
Though there is a single applicant this year, the process will remain mostly unchanged.
Because the DTH bylaws stipulate that a candidate must obtain at least eight votes from the committee to assume leadership of the paper, Hunter's bid for editor could potentially be rejected.
Applications would then be taken again, and the entire process would be repeated.
"I'm excited about being the only candidate, but there is that degree of nervousness about not being chosen," said Hunter, who serves as managing editor this year.
