The Daily Tar Heel is the student newspaper at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and has served the community since it was founded on February 23, 1893. The nonprofit organization, which was incorporated in 1989 as a separate legal entity from UNC, stopped taking student fees in 1993 and has since been funded by advertising revenue, thus making it both fiscally and editorially independent.
The student journalists are solely responsible for all content under the direction of the student editor-in-chief. The current editor-in-chief is Laney Crawley. The paper's business operations are governed by a 13-member, student-majority board of directors whose open slots are filled by the board each winter for the next year.
The paper circulates 10,000 free copies each Wednesday during the regular academic year to about 200 distribution locations throughout campus, Chapel Hill, Carrboro, Chatham and Durham, making it the largest community newspaper in the area. It publishes a handful of editions during the summer sessions. The website, dailytarheel.com, draws 11,400 readers (unique visitors) on average per school day.
The editor-in-chief oversees the newsroom operations and is ultimately responsible for all news and opinion content. The editor serves as the public face of the paper. The editor also hires the rest of the newsroom staff, which includes the print managing editor, digital managing editor, special projects editor and each of the desk editors. The editor-in-chief is selected each April by an independent 11-member selection board generated by the board of directors for just that purpose.
The student advertising manager and a staff of about 25 are responsible for all advertising sales under the direction of the non-student advertising director.
Two professionals are employed in support and coaching functions. At the height of the school year, there are some 80 paid students in news, advertising, customer service and production functions and another 150 or more student volunteers.
Our reception desk is staffed daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. to help you place classifieds and answer questions. Call 962-1163 or send an e-mail to classifieds@dailytarheel.com.
Notable alumni include Charles Kuralt, Jonathan Yardley, Peter Gammons, Peter Wallsten, Mary Junck, Thannasis Cambanis, Rolfe Neill, Frank Bruni, Hugh Stevens, Larry Keith, Thomas Wolfe, Walter Spearman, Susan Miller Fulton, Alan Murray, Edwin Yoder, Karen Jurgensen, Emily Steel, Robyn Tomlin, Rob Nelson, Cheryl Carpenter, Melanie Sill, Helene Cooper, Curtis Gans, U.S. Rep Jim Cooper and many others.
The DTH is one of the most decorated college newspapers in the country, winning numerous Associated Collegiate Press Pacemakers and SPJ Mark of Excellence awards in addition to being recognized for four straight years as having the most outstanding business and advertising staff in the country. In 2011 it became the first collegiate newspaper in the state to be recognized against its commercial peers by winning a 2nd place general excellence award in its N.C. Press Association division. In 2014, it was inducted into the Associated Collegiate Press' Pacemaker Hall of Fame.
The Daily Tar Heel has student job opportunities in all departments. The job opportunities require different skill sets but more importantly, a willingness to learn and work hard. Our graduates go on to top jobs in journalism, advertising, politics, technology, the law and many other professions. Check out this page to learn more about job opportunities in each department.
Learn more about our student-fueled newsroom and the UNC student journalists who publish the The Daily Tar Heel in print and online.
The Daily Tar Heel is the independent, nonprofit media lab for the University of North Carolina and the communities of Orange County. Since 1893, we have been the community's investigator, advocate and fact-checker.
We are also an independent, nonprofit organization with 501(c)(3) status. Donate today to Start the Presses and support the future of independent student media.
