Newspapers / Daily Tar Heel (Chapel … / March 13, 1970, edition 1 / Page 2
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Lvmla Stethmm 78 Years of Editorial Bobby No well The students will vote Tuesday for the editor of the Daily Tar Heel. There arc six slates this year, two of them co-candidacies, and all the rhetoric and grand promises cloud the alternatives and the priorities which the students should have before voting. The Tar Heel is a student institution. It is run by students, but more important, it serves the students. It serves the students because it is essentially the most effective voice they have to espouse student rights. The medium is a powerful one on this campus because just about everyone does read the Tar Heel. It is essential, then, that what the students, as well as the faculty and administration, read every morning in the Tar Heel is not merely a pudding of campus news bulletins and bland opinion which does little more than please as many readers as possible. What is needed is a newspaper which gets to the core of every news event and which offers penetrating ideas about where the University and the world should be moving. The editor of the Tar Heel must therefore be not only a highly competent journalist, but an individual with a firm grasp of the world and with perceptive ideas about where that world is, and sjiould be, moving. Of the eight candidates for the editorship of this newspaper, only one cand date possesses both the; essentials':.; to ,be a - strong, capable ; editor. " " Bobby Nowell is the only real choice for Tar Heel editor because not only does he lead the field of candidates with hard, raw journalistic talent and solid) experiences and know-how to match, but just as important, he is keenly perceptive of the world in which he lives. He sincerely feels things about that world. Consider the other candidates. Douglas Campbell is a Ph.D. candidate in mathematics. How nuch time is he going to be able to devote to the newspaper? Bryan dimming worked for the , Tar Heel last year, ran for editor, was defeated, and discontinued his work for the newspaper. His idea of the newspaper is that it should be "fun" to read, that the world and the university are really good places, that injustice and reality and pessimism are not the things to talk about in the Tar Heel. Steve Enfield and Dennis Benfield are running for co-editors. Both served short terms as news editor of the Tar Heel this past year, and both were incapable of doing the job. Neither had enough of a grasp of either the world of the campus or the organization of the newsroom to function as news editor in the way in which he should have. Both think that to be honest in an editorial, even if that . means telling readers the truth about the world and themselves, is not a good thing to do, especially if to do so evokes criticism xof the newspaper. Andy Schorr and Rusty Carter have both worked for the Tar Heel. Schorr wrote occasional columns, including one about the need for girls on campus to go bra-less. Except for his infrequent contributions to the paper, he has had no newspaper background. Carter has worked as assistant sports editor of the paper. On the . basis of that, he feels he can now be editor. Both want to bring the Tar Heel back to the time when a panty-raid was the most significant event on campus. Tom Gooding has worked for three years on the paper. He could possibly make a good editor, but we have not seen enough of his writing or leadership to really be Freedom Todd Cohen Editor Bobby NoweS Harry Bryan B iff M ilia Bob Chapman Mary Burch Art Chansky Assoctate Editor f.'-anagi ng Editor News Editor Assoc. Managing Editor Arts Editor Sports Editor Bob Wilson Frank Stewart Business Manager Advertising Manager Peter Hatch Night Editor This Issue ditor sure. While he was associate editor (last fall and the first part of winter), he rarely used his position to say anything, which he could, and we feel should, have done. Instead of emerging from his anonymity and speaking up. he remained silent. Further, Gooding has said the editor "should be influenced by the general temperament of the campus, but not controlled by it." Such ambivalence is not what is needed these days. Today is a black time for this country, and for the news media. What we need are not merely journalists who want to please their public, but journalists who are going to talk to their public, to tell them what the world is really like, where injustices and bigotry seek to have, or already have, footholds. What the Tar Heel needs is an editor who can see those things, and who is not going to be afraid to write about them. Bobby Nowell has not been afraid to say things. He has received criticism for what he has said, but he has said it because he believed it. He did not merely seek to cover up the sores of the world with whipped cream. But Novyell doesn't merely have the native talent and intelligence to be a good journalist. He has the experience. His creditials speak for themselves: Sports editor of hometown '' "weekly, Gold Vea:JJ?Jr,metl JWentfeil, N.C.r aT JigS V5J spdftsT high school, and civic correspondent for the Raleigh Times while a high school student; editor of high school newspaper as a sophomore (the only non-senior in the 55-year history of the school); photography editor of high school annual. Also, served four summer's intern work with major daily newspapers did general assignment reporting, sports reporting, news editing, editorial writing, and some photography. Has worked for the Raleigh Times, Raleigh News and Observer, Atlanta Journal, Norfolk Ledger-Star, and Greensboro Daily News. As a freshman at UNO, was sports editor of the Carolina Greek. Joined the Tar Heel as a sophomore and handled Student Government and South Building beats. Became managing editor on April 10, 1969-served until Jan. 15, 1970 when he became associate editor and an editorialist, both of which positions he presently occupies. In the past year he has written editorials and columns, news and features stories, drawn cartoons, and written record reviews, as well as technically constructing the newspaper. -He also manages to be a top student. Last semester he made the Dean's List despite working an average of 38 hours per week on the Tar Heel (six day week). He also earned an A' in Journalism 58, Editorial Writing (a rare thing to come by). Bobby Nowell has both the talent and experience to be not only a good, but a great editor of the Daily Tar Heel. Complementing those necessary credentials are his keen understanding and sincere feelings about the world. Nowell has not been ambivalent, or even worse, silent, about the way he thinks. And what this campus really needs is someone who not only knows how to talk, but who has something to say, and no doubts about saying it. Because this campus needs -an "editor with a mimU and with the will to use it, we endorse Bobby Nowell for editor of the Dailv Tar Heel. 8 For E no well Bobby Nowell doesn't look like a candidate and he doesn't act like one. j And that's one of several good reasons to vote for him for editor of the Daily Tar Heel. He hasn't compromised himself to the campaign, clipped himself to an "acceptable" image, or committed himself to petty promises. He is a candidate who has not guarded his words, actions, or appearance, but has continued to speak freely and intelligently. He has remained unprettied, unwatered-down by moderate modulations of campaign promises. He has remained honest. And so his product will be. He stands on the steady ground of experience. And there is evidence not just promises of his achievements. He has believed in and worked hard for the Daily Tar Heel and can make it better if he's at the helm. His slogan is "Vote for Experience Not Question Marks." Nowell wants to run the DTH like a bia city daily newspaper, and he is the candidate with the most know-how experience, and down-right desire to do it. He knows the workings of big city dailies, for he has interned with theni for four summers. He has learned the entire scope of the game news writing, sports" writing, copy editing and layout, editorial writing, and photography. He knows the functions of the Daily Tar Heel better than any other candidate. He has practically lived in the DTH office for the past six months. Glenn Brank Impressions' Of Candidates Minus The spring campaign will end Tuesday, bringing to a close the highly contested race for the editorship of the Daily Tar Heel. Debate has buried voters under an avalanche of rhetoric. Unfortunately, few people have had a real opportunity to see beyond this phase of the campaign. If they became tired of endless double-talk, I can readily sympathize since I interviewed each candidate firsthand and was bored to death. However, the opportunity was not a waste because I was able to see another - -side j of each individual beyond stilted rhetoric. - - -- Is anyone aware of the stress an editor is subjected to? Day after day, it is his responsibility to fill those left hand columns with opinion that will be scrutinized by 10,000 readers. He makes crucial decisions on the importance of news stories. Generally, he is responsible for an exacting production limited to three or four hours work. v Off-the-cuff questioning of the candidates provided a similiar sense of pressure. Did they have anything reasonable to say? Were they consistent? For instance, the first question asked whether editorials should represent the opinion of the editor or the students. Naturally, most of the candidates emphasized the consideration of campus opinions (a vote-getting answer). Yet the next day, on the question of compulsory funding of the DTH, they reversed their stands on student opinion. Only one candidate Tom Gooding made mention of the fact that the decision would be made by the students in a referendum. Four candidates stated flatly they endorsed compulsory funding while one supported independent funding. As important as consistency is the need for practical ideas as opposed to campaign promises. Candidates who proposed sweeping changes chose to ignore little details. Recruitment of a "professional" reporter willing to work three to four hours a day for nothing up to a maximum of $6.00 a week an independent cost one million dollars. Strictly local news is desirable, but can three news pages be filled in two or three hours every day with local events? Bobby Nowell exhibited a great deal of newspaper sense in his comments on such matters. These examples demonstrate judgement born of experience. And since experience is important, it is particularly disheartening to find the term used so loosely in this campaign. Students should be fully aware that experience involves factors of quality and quantity. Dismissing credits on face value is dangerous. Serving as a correspondent The Daily Tar Heel is published by the University of North Carolina $: Student Publication's Board, daily $: excapt Monday, examination $: periods and vacations and during : summer periods. Offices are at the Student Union :: BIdg., Univ. of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, N.C. 27514. Telephone numbers: editorial, sports,. & news 93 3-1011; business, ijij circulation, advertising 933-1163, Address: Box 1080, Chapel Hill, N.C. 27514. g Subscription rates: $10 per year; $5 per semester. We regret that we & can accept only prepaid subscriptions. Second class postage paid at U.S. Post Office in Chapel Hill, N.C. g -;-- VV m n ' During his tenure as Managing Editor of the DTH from April 10, 1969 to Jan. 15. 1970, he wrote news and feature stories, columns, and editorials, and drew cartoons this in addition to his supervision of the technical construction of the paper. He wrote headlines, laid out pages, and put the paper to bed. He had an average six-day work week of 33 hours. Yet he still managed to make the Dean's List for the Fall Semester including an A in Journalism 53, Editorial Writing. The professional papers he has worked for are the Raleigh Times, Raleigh Sews and Observer, Atlanta Journal, Greensboro Daily News, and Norfolk Ledger-Star. Nowell plans to operate the DTH as a big city daily by surrounding himself with a journalistically talented staff. He will do away with what he calls the "spoils system" the positioning of campaign supporters in good jobs. This , practice, prevalent in this and other elections, has been one of the main reasons that the paper has become as journalistically impoverished as it now is. Nowell proposes to hire more journalism majors and non-majors with newspaper experience to augment the present inexperienced staff. If elected, he "would not be above" hiring some of his defeated opponents. Instead of threatening staff members with dismissal, and placing his supporters in high positions, Nowell will broaden the number of department head . jobs. These advisory and administrative jobs will go to a well-known daily does not imply a great volume of work, and an ocassional contributor is not a columnist. Some say the DTH needs new management with outside experience. 1 disagree on the principle that the DTH is different from professional papers in its operation and readership. With candidates listing "impressive" credits, I wonder why they even bother to seek control of the DTH. Their extensive criticisms would lead us to believe the paper is nqtwjprth saving. And l with their experience, why not stay with professional papers if tliey'are really that :- good? There is something to be said for students concerned enough about the DTH to do something besides stand in a sanctuary of criticism. True concern is reflected in hard, thankless work for the paper; substitutions in the form of campaign promises seem superficial in comparison. If I am to be accused of Letters To The Editor Tood For To the Editor: In view of recent drug busts and the I ever-present danger of an unwarranted ; early -morning visit from Them, there has ; developed an urgent need for a unified I effort on the part of the head community at avoiding and preventing such hassles. 1 Since a general meeting to discuss such matters is out of the question, here is ; some food for thought. 1. Learn the truth about the mind-altering drugs. There is reliable, research-based information available, as well as untruthful stuff of a sensational-hysterical nature. Learn the difference. For a start, read "Drug : Forum", Playboy, Feb. 1970. There is also a good article on marijuana and its effects in a recent issue of Science. Also learn the laws on drugs. Kuow your Bill of Rights. I 2. Stay away from heroin and other addictive drugs. Don't buy any thing from anyone that sells heroin and advise 'others, especially the young, to avoid it. laOrsQ TO If i4 iTf to the most experienced and talented journalists available. One important criterion in considering editorial prospects is whether a candidate can put together a good staff, not just a collection of bodies. Through his acquaintance with student journalists in his professional and DTH experience, Nowell knows the people who can work together to correct the technical difficulties the paper has experienced in the past year. There is no limit to the number of people who can work for the DTH, and he would like to double or triple the present force of about 30. Undefined jobs will be eliminated, along with them, and the general hubub of confusion in the office. As Editor, Nowell wCl work with an editorial staff of two or three assistants, who will help prepare the daily editorials. The Editor, he believes, should not be required to do every edit every day. The duty of the Managing Editor will be to run the newsroom, siphoning off technical problems from the editor's attention. Assignment of stories and pictures will rest with (1) News Editor, (2) City Editor, and (3) State Editor. Technical construction (layout) of the paper will be the responsibility of a copy desk chief and his assistants. Experience in journalism is a relative term. I'm not saying Nowell has more experience than the other candidates, but for all-around abilities, every other opponent runs second. An editor, like the director of a symphony orchestra, must being partial, let me say only that I am partial to those who have proven dedication to the DTH and shown clarity and reason in their thinking. Here ary my impressions of all the candidates, both pro and con: TOM GOODING is rational and competent. He has had considerable experience with the DTH, but his outside newspaper work is limited. BOBBY NOWELL has extensive newspaper experience and is a skillful writer. It would have been better if he had mentioned editorial tolerance in his interview. ANDY 4 SCHORR-RUSTY CARTER have experience in the form of Carter's sports work for the DTH. Carter is knowledgable in this area, but does not seem acquainted with standard news. Schorr attempts sincerity but is terribly vague. Some of their ideas are unrealistic. Regardless of the election's outcome, Schorr should be obtained as a public relations man he's highly talented in that '? " " 1 , I ii T S""' n nni i a 9 O L bo nigra in 3. At all times, stay cool. Chances are you're a lot brighter than They are, so if you expend a moderate amount of mental effort you 11 probably reap great benefits, like staying out of jail. There's absolutely nothing to be gained by daring the police. That's not cool. 4. You're most vulnerable during a purchase. Try to make large infrequent purchases and keep your stash well hidden. Think. The spice rack is no good. 5. Busts generally follow a cyclic pattern: gradual gathering of evidence through a system of infiltrators and informers over a period of weeks or months; a sudden raid; probably a period of withdrawal to allow folk to recover from post-bust uptigntness; uieu a new cycle. Uncover the informers. Give them the publicity they so justly deserve. Know your dealer. If you deal, know your clients. 6. Drugs are not an end in themselves. If used wisely, marijuana and the harder psychedelics can provide enjoyable, meaningful, valuable experiences, but it's' H TiirOiTc? Tfin have thorough knowledge of all facet, of his charge. Nowell has this; her? as sor.e of his opponents are incapable of such rudimentary tasks as page layout ar,j headline writing. His career in journalism began in h;jh school. He was editor of his hi'h schevi newspaper the only non-senior editor ;,i the paper's 55-year" history. He a' served as photography editor of the H.S. yearbook. At age 15, he was sports editor of h;S hometown weekly, the Gold Leaf Fzn.tr (Wendell, N.C.). He was high school, civic, and sports correspondent for the Raleigh Times for three years. As a freshman at Carolina he served is sports editor of the now -defunct Ccrolz Greek. He joined the DTH as a sophomore and handled the Student Government and South Building beat,n. He was Managing Editor for six rnor.ihs and is presently Associate Editor ar.j editorialist. He is the candidate with blood and guts newspaper experience. And he is the candidate who really cares about the DTH. He hasn't left it under the lure of higher-paying, half-the-work stringers' jobs. He hasnt sat at a distant vantage point and criticized the paper without working for it. He hasn't held a position with the paper and done absolutely nothing in that position, as other candidates have. "Experience and not question marks?" There is no question that Bobby Nowell is the one who satisfies this question. heSoric respect. DOUGLAS CAMPBELL is the only candidate who would demand a recount if he won. Campbell's purpose is to keep the issue of voluntary funding alive. Unfortunately, he knows nothing of the DTH operation or of newspaper work in genera!. BRYAN CUMMING is the other non-journalism major. He was totally unprepared for making decisions during the interview. Given time and help; he can project the impression of leadership, but Cumming would find the editorship difficult if he intended to run the paper himself. - - '" --- STEVE ENFIELD and BENNIS BENFIELD, with all their outside experience, manage to constantly contradict themselves. Such are the risks when your primary goal is the collection of votes rather than the development of sound thinking. And it raises doubts as to the effectiveness of a paper where authority is divided. tlXS no good going around with your mind fried all the time. 7. This is only a general guide. It was meant to be. If you want particular ideas and plans, look inside your own he:,d. Ingenuity plus cool equals strength. Start now. Please withhold my name and address from publication. Thank you. Name withheld Chapel Hill ; Readers Fonim Letters to the editor must be typed and double-spaced, not exceeding 300 words. The letter writer must indicate his willingness for his opinion to be expressed in print. All printed letters must carry the name and address of the writer(s). Letters should be addressed to the Asspciate Editor, care of The Daily Tar Heel, Student Ur.io,n. kJTUg id 1 ft &
Daily Tar Heel (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
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March 13, 1970, edition 1
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