From DavidsonNews.net (1/24/11): The editor of The Charlotte Observer is now saying the paper may decide against sending e-mail to citizens whose addresses it obtains the rough a public-records request of local governments. But the paper is defending its request for the records, which comes as a lobbying group for the state’s cities and towns is proposing limits on public access to citizen e-mail lists.
In a blog post Saturday, Observer editor Rick Thames said the paper had thought it might use the email lists to solicit citizen participation in its outreach efforts. Citizens whose names are on the lists are clearly engaged with the community, and the paper reasoned they might like to hear about its own public initiatives.
The Observer has requested citizen email lists from Charlotte, Davidson, Cornelius and other area governments. Mr. Thames said last week The Observer planned to use the email lists only for “journalistic purposes,” though he acknowledged that could include sending unsolicited emails inviting recipients to sign up for newsroom services. (See a copy of the Observer’s request to Davidson (PDF), CLICK HERE>)
Public officials, citizens and marketing experts raised red flags, worrying that the paper was planning to use the emails to send marketing messages.