DTH editor candidate: Tori Stilwell brings energy

Combining exercise with dance moves, Tori Stilwell is all smiles and energy as she encourages her cardio funk class.

She applies this same enthusiasm to her work at The Daily Tar Heel.

A junior economics and journalism double major, the DTH city editor is one of four running for editor-in-chief.

“I’ve never seen someone with so much energy, and I’m on Dance Marathon,” said Olivia Barrow, an assistant city editor under Stilwell.

A Morehead-Cain Scholar from Hickory, Stilwell has worked at the paper for three years, first as a staff writer, then as an assistant editor, then as city editor.

“I really love the DTH, and I’ve come to appreciate what it can do for the people who work here,” Stilwell said.

Outside of the DTH, she is a cardio funk fitness instructor at the Student Recreation Center and an admissions ambassador.

Last summer, Stilwell interned at the Concordia Sentinel in Louisiana where her get-it-done attitude led her to locate a key witness for an article, said Stanley Nelson, her editor.

“Some people told me they had no idea where she was,” he said. “But Tori found her and it was a big deal.”

Nelson said she walked around the Mississippi town until she found one of the witness’ relatives.

Next summer, Stilwell will work as an intern for Bloomberg News in New York City.

If selected as next year’s editor-in-chief, Stilwell has three main goals.

First, she plans to merge the online and multimedia desks to assure the DTH website has unique content that is different and enhances the print edition.

“We need to be able to attract an audience that is geared to only online,” she said.

Second, Stilwell hopes to increase the DTH’s presence on campus through Pit-sitting, painting cubes, making staff enrichments open to the community and social media.

“I want to increase our presence on campus as people,” she said.

Lastly, Stilwell hopes to foster an increased sense of community among staff members through seminars and activities.

A writer who works under Stilwell said she is on track.

“I’ve seen myself grow dramatically,” said freshman staff writer Lenzie Purcell.

Nelson agrees.

“In addition to all the professional qualities she has, she is also a good, honest person,” he said. “And that’s a good person to have leading your newsroom.”