Platform: Prioritizing multimedia content, multicultural inclusivity and well-being

As I look ahead to the possibility as serving as the next editor-in-chief of The Daily Tar Heel, I bring with me a passion not only for journalistic excellence but also for creating an excellent newsroom culture.

As EIC, I would build on the existing foundation of hard work and creativity while pushing toward greater inclusion, higher-quality multimedia content and a more supportive work environment. Through expanding access for Spanish-speaking audiences, reimagining the Audio-Visual Desk, prioritizing staff well-being and building a more connected newsroom, I'd hope to leave The DTH stronger than I found it.

Increasing News Accessibility for Spanish Speakers

The Hispanic/Latino population is a prominent demographic facing the brunt of the Trump Administration’s strict immigration policies, which have left even legal residents fearing deportation. With this community making up 10.5% of Orange County’s population according to 2022 census data, it is imperative that we work extra hard to keep them informed.

To do that, I propose a new website section: DTH en español (DTH in Spanish). This section would feature a curated collection of translated articles and potentially even original reporting in Spanish, accessible via a prominent homepage button. A new editor would be responsible for selecting and translating stories, publishing them and engaging with Spanish-speaking communities through surveys and local reporting. This initiative starts with Spanish, but it leaves room for broader multilingual and multicultural coverage in the future.

This position could standalone as the Spanish Engagement Editor or be integrated into the existing DEI Coordinator role, reshaped as the Cultural Equity and Inclusion Editor.

Cultural Equity and Inclusion Editor

Past DTH newsrooms have intentionally kept DEI positions separate from editorial positions — as coordinators, not editors. While this approach has its advantages, I believe diversity, equity and inclusion should be an implicit and active facet of our newsroom’s culture, values and community coverage — not an external box to check off.

I'd propose elevating the existing DEI Coordinator role to the management team and integrating editorial responsibilities, like editing, pitching and translating stories. The role would take a new name: the Cultural Equity and Inclusion Editor. This restructuring would take DEI strategy from concept to practice. Inclusive journalism should be built into every headline, every source list and every translated page. It’s a newsroom value, not an HR initiative, and it belongs at the heart of our editorial leadership.

Improving our Audio-Visual Strategy

In a time of shrinking attention spans and video-dominated content online, our Audio-Visual Desk is more important than ever. I plan to support, strengthen and streamline our AV strategy so that our audio and video content is something audiences can count on — in both quality and regularity.

For better workload distribution, I would restructure AV leadership to include one editor and two specialized assistants for video and audio. I would work to forge a strong partnership between our AV and Audience Engagement teams, as AV content drives social media engagement. I would also develop a cohesive digital style guide. When content looks clean and professional, our viewers trust that our reporting is just as solid.

Mitigating Burnout

While I care deeply about the quality and consistency of our news content, I care more about the student journalists who work tirelessly to create it. Burnout hits our newsroom nearly every year, driving devoted editors to step away from The DTH.

As editor, I will take a "quality over quantity" approach to our coverage and lead the way in promoting healthy habits. I will ensure all editors take their days off, and I will implement strict "Slack dark hours" to limit work-related communication outside of the office.

We are rightfully proud of the work we do at The Daily Tar Heel, but I believe we put a bit too much pressure on ourselves to be perfect. At the end of the day, we are students first. Establishing and enforcing these boundaries and practices will be key to long-term sustainability of newsroom leadership positions.

Creating a Culture of Positivity and Camaraderie

The newsroom should be a place where people feel good about their work and the people they’re working with. Creating a culture of kindness, communication and support is just as important to me as any coverage plan. While difficult to quantify, these goals are imperative for strengthening our most valuable assets: our people.The key to being an effective and assertive leader is to be an open-minded and devoted team player — and that’s exactly what I will be for The Daily Tar Heel.

I will ensure an organized and sustainable workflow, a content strategy focused on quality over quantity, a culture of strong support and collaboration and, most importantly, a commitment to serving our audience with dependable content that meets their needs.

@allipardont @dailytarheel

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