Boycott the Charlotte Observer Twitter Directory

To:  The Charlotte Observer

Preamble.
1-A1
In the signing of this petition, citizens of Charlotte not only wish to make a statement to the Charlotte Observer daily newspaper and its employees, but to all of institutionalized media. Building links with the civilian press is logical and ethical. Simultaneously, by signing in protest, citizens of Charlotte are building an independent alternative to the Charlotte Observer Charlotte's Twitter directory; an alternative directory not for profit, an independent directory without corporate involvement, a grassroots directory created by the people for the people, and with all purposeful intention to serve the people. In signing this petition, we citizens declare, as one, that a new media has been wrought and this new media is an inevitable means of communication even the first cataloguers of the public record origninally intended, wished and foresaw. These ideas were fomented within the most ancient and primal acts of documenting the human experience.

2-A1
We, the undersigned, wish to redress the Charlotte Observer a list of grievances, such that the daily newspaper owned by McClatchy, Inc. cease and desist its collection and publication of Twitter users within the municipality of Charlotte, and the county of Mecklenburg; as defined within the boundaries of the state of North Carolina; indefinitely, until the following demands are redressed without exception;

2-B1. That Charlotte Observer engage in public discourse over Twitter and other Social Media by use of @replies, hashtags(#), and yet to be incepted means of online engagement;
2-B2. That Charlotte Observer not use any free blogging platform such as Blogger, Wordpress, and yet to be incepted means of publishing;
2-B3. That Charlotte Observer daily newspaper acknowledge the existence of other online sources of information, including local blogs within its primary distribution radius; and link to them; and by linkage defined as open, obvious and frequent hyperlinks embedded into text or otherwise as a means of citing sources and elevating the opinions of non-professional and amateur publishers of online materials;

3-A1
This petition is not a threat. This petition does not advocate a boycott of readership, or of cancellation of subscription, to the Charlotte Observer as it exists in any entity, or of its subsidiaries, or of its parent corporation, McClatchy, Inc. This petition pertains expressly to the boycott of the local Twitter directory as described in Jeff Elder's post "Social Not-Working" dated August 12, 2009 found at the following web address: http://atcharlotte.blogspot.com/2009/08/social-not-working.html

Appendix-1A
If a person has previously filled out the form to be listed on the Charlotte Observer Twitter directory, then the specific listed person intends to call the Charlotte Observer and ask to be removed in a courteous and polite manner.

Appendix-1B
As written on the form sign-up page for the Charlotte Obsever Charlotte's Twitter Directory located at the web address: http://spreadsheets.google.com/embeddedform?key=0Ar085Y1km5FadFNaTkNfN3huS0MzVncxWDBTNGozU3c
"Hi there -- You can help the Observer compile a directory of Twitter users across the city. The directory will be made public and allow you to more easily connect with people you should follow. Questions? Contact editor Steve Gunn at sgunn@charlotteobserver.com or 704-358-5077. And be sure to follow us @theobserver. We'd appreciate re-tweets of this form, or any other way you'd like to use to get it to your friends and colleagues."

Sincerely,

The Undersigned

The Boycott the Charlotte Observer Twitter Directory Petition to The Charlotte Observer was created by Residents of Charlotte, North Carolina and written by Matthew Vincent (editor@minimumfailure.com).  This petition is hosted here at www.PetitionOnline.com as a public service. There is no endorsement of this petition, express or implied, by Artifice, Inc. or our sponsors. For technical support please use our simple Petition Help form.