Healing Charlottesville

Seven-point vision to take over C-ville Weekly.

Bryce McGregor, General Manager
William G. Chapman, Publisher
C-VILLE WEEKLY
222 South Street
Charlottesville, Va. 22902

Gentlemen,

I would like to apply for the position of editor of C-VILLE.   If hired, I will articulate and implement a positive plan of inclusion, balance, and literate reporting as a way to increase readership and sales revenue.

Here is my vision in the form of policy statements.

1. As editor, I will stop the slander and personal attacks on private individuals and companies.   To that end, I will inspire Dave Matthews, with whom I worked at Miller�s, to give an exclusive interview to C-VILLE.   The interview will be exclusive because I will ask questions no one else has thought of.
2. Political reporting will become incisive and inclusive.   I will seek a respectful interview with Angie Brown, the oldest living alumnus of Jefferson School.   Ms. Brown knew Ms. Jackson, the woman who inspired a community to build a school.
3. I will not start a newspaper war (Working Weekly, The Observer).   Attacking a competitor is a poor substitute for original content.
4. Anyone who submits original work that is not published in C-VILLE will be told, within two weeks, why their work is not appropriate for C-VILLE.   Anyone who applies for a job will be hired or told, within two weeks, why he or she has not been hired.   All phone calls will be returned; letters answered.
5. I will enforce The Golden Rule.   Treat others as you would like to be treated in a similar circumstance.   I cannot imagine the writers of C-VILLE would welcome the treatment they dealt Matthew Farrell.   I will give Mr. Farrell 2,000 words to say anything he wants without commentary from C-VILLE.
6. I will not limit Mail Bag submissions to letters criticizing C-VILLE�s coverage or to 400 words.   I want to promote an influx of new ideas and expressions.
7. Because unbiased reporting does not exist, staff writers will express their bias in the form of an opinion, conclusion, or recommendation.

As editor, I will make tough judgment calls based on principle, not emotion.   I will draw on a wide variety of experiences, knowledge of the community and local history.   I will not shy away from controversial topics.   I will add value to C-VILLE WEEKLY.

My work can be read in The Daily Progress page A-4 January 14, 2002; The Observer October 31 and February 28, 2001, and April 26, 2000.   I am also the editor of a startup newspaper The Witness Report.   I enclose the first five issues.   The mission statement of my newspaper is to assert the Bill of Rights as the Supreme Law.   I also include a copy of the Mail Bag letter I sent to C-VILLE last week.

My salary requirements are $40,000 a year, stock options, and bonuses linked to increasing sales and circulation.   I am available for a one-year probationary period.   If you decide not to hire me, I will continue to invest my energies in The Witness Report, your competition.

Thanks for taking the time to read this material.   Good fortune to you.

Blair Hawkins

Posted Wed 20 Feb 2002

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