Pledge “boycottHDM”
"I will not buy the Hull Daily Mail until they issue a prominent apology to Paul Smith but only if 30 other people will do the same."
— Tim
Deadline to sign up by: 20th March 2010
18 people signed up, 12 more were needed
Country: United Kingdom
Place: Beverley (view map)
More details
On 4th March, Hull Daily Mail published an article which "revealed" that local web designer Paul Smith had previously worked on sites containing pornography.
http://tr.im/HDMsmear
Paul Smith is also the webmaster of the popular community website HU17.net.
http://www.HU17.net/
Quite apart from the hypocrisy, when the paper itself carries classified ads for "escort agencies" and "personal services", the only reasonable reaction to this piece of "news" for me is, "So what?"
http://tr.im/HDMescorts
http://tr.im/HDMpersonals
It certainly appears that the only motivation for the article is to smear the reputation of a competitor to the newspaper publisher's own attempts to move into local online media.
If you too are appalled by this bullying behaviour, why not sign up to boycott the newspaper?
Tell your friends and neighbours!
- contribute $25 per month to DVGRR
- give a percentage or more of the Canton Free TV project of $4000
- to support my African American sisters and brothers businesses
- vote for Hank Williams Jr. in the Primary Election
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Things to do with this pledge
Current signatories (
= they've done it)
Tim, the Pledge Creator, joined by:
- terry workman
- Paul D
- Steve Buttle
- Geoff O
- John Harrison
- Peter Thomas
- Adam Taylor
- Wag The Tickton Cat
- ali lovelock
- Dee
- Graham Porter
- Malcolm Girling
- Paul M
- Jerry Love
- sara-kaycee harrison
- 2 people who did not want to give their names
- 1 person who signed up via mobile
Comments on this pledge
The deputy editor's name is David Bourn.
I Googled around on David Bourn and discovered a hushed up story involving his arrest back when he worked on a previous newspaper.
As you can see from the weblink, it was quickly hushed up, but you can see someone in the know describe it as an "assault on a woman".
http://www.bit.ly/david-bourn-assault-on...
What ever you do, do NOT spread that webpage URL in lots of Hull-related websites and forums, along with the terms "David Bourn" and "Hull Daily Mail".
If people did this, then it would be very bad for David Bourn and the Hull Daily Mail, as the webpage would eventually get to the top of search results whenever people did a Google search for "David Bourn" or "Hull Daily Mail".
I trust you can keep this to yourselves. We wouldn't want David Bourn's reputation ruined now, would we?
What really riled me was day 3 of the HDM's campaign when it published a statement implying elements of paedophilia in Mr. Smith's work for the hu17.net website. I found such comments distasteful, salacious and an unwarranted attack on Mr. Smith as an individual.
I have pledged never to buy the Hull Daily Mail again and I have also submitted a request to de-register from the Hull Daily Mail website.
http://pledgebank.com/boycottHDM/flyers
I understand that Paul Smith made a complaint to the Press Complaints Commission and this will be looked at by the PCC.
Keep an eye on the PCC website for the result!
The woman Bourn allegedly assaulted was a prostitute! He was also rumoured to have been a coke addict throughout his tenure as Editor of the Norwich Evening News. I have it on good authority that the police were fully aware of his dealings with local drug barons - which is why they arrived so quickly when he became embroiled in the spat with the woman (probably over his wish not to pay for her services).
From employee of the Norwich Evening News) David Bourn was a despicable character - a bully, a sexist, exploitative self-serving wanker.
Please take me to court for these potentially libelous comments David - the TRUTH will protect me!