From The Atlanta Writers Club: Two Ways to Protest the Ruination of the AJC Book Review Section

**REPRINTED WITH THE PERMISSION OF GEORGE WEINSTEIN OF THE ATLANTA WRITERS CLUB**

Dear Atlanta Writers Club members, guests, past speakers, future speakers,
and community supporters,

As many of you know, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution is eliminating the
book editor job held by Teresa Weaver and might dissolve the whole book
review section of the paper. We pride ourselves on our thriving literary
community, so what message is the AJC delivering about us when it begins to
dismantle a prime outlet for news and reviews about books?

Below are just two of the ways you can lodge your protest:

If you feel that this myopic act devalues the readers and writers of our
region, please click on the link below for the petition launched by the
National Book Critics Circle, and add your signature and comments alongside
those by Clyde Edgerton, Darnell Arnoult, Joshilyn Jackson, Karin Slaughter,
and many, many others (my entry is #202, right below Michael Connelly's):

http://www.petitiononline.com/atl2007/petition.html

There's another, even more powerful way you can make an impression on the
AJC--and help bring media exposure to this situation: participate in the
ATLANTA “Save the Book Review” READ-IN! Bring a book and wear your Atlanta
Writers Club T-shirt to a demonstration outside the front doors of the AJC.

The following is an invitation to the READ-IN from Shannon Byrne, Publicity
Manager of Little, Brown and Company:

Hundreds of readers will converge upon the Atlanta Journal-Constitution next
Thursday, May 3, for a READ-IN to protest the AJC’s business practices
regarding books coverage. Come to the READ-IN and see for yourself! If you
have to work, please still tell everyone you know to come out to show their
support!

WHAT: ATLANTA “Save the Book Review” READ-IN! Bring a book (or many books!)
you love, and let’s create a critical mass of readers to put the pressure on
the Atlanta Journal-Constitution to reverse its terrible decision to
“reorganize” its book review out of existence! They got rid of the book
review editor, and without an official champion for books within the paper,
the quality of books coverage is endangered! It will become disorganized and
sporadic, if not simply perfunctory, until, worse, it’s no longer there.

TIME: 10:00 AM until…you decide!

DATE: THURSDAY, MAY 3, 2007
*rain or shine

LOCATION: Converge in front of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Hold open
your book and read aloud or to yourself. Trust me, you won’t be the only
one. Picture hundreds of people doing the same thing!
[*directions below]

WHO: Open to any and all writers, readers, and lovers of books and
newspapers. Come one, come all Atlantans (or ATLiens), Georgians, and even
you hardcore out-of-staters.

WHY: Because the city of Atlanta wants a robust, reader-friendly,
intelligent book review, not just a section run on auto-pilot from above.
Teresa Weaver has created and run exactly this kind of section for almost
ten years now and we want the AJC to reward her expertise, not eliminate her
job.

Again, if you haven’t signed the "Protect Atlanta's Book Review" petition
yet, here’s the link to it:

http://www.petitiononline.com/atl2007/petition.html

This week, the National Book Critics Circle launched a big campaign to help
save book review sections in newspapers nationwide, and the momentum will
continue next week. Read what authors, critics, and many other voices in the
world of books and publishing have been saying about the issue:

http://bookcriticscircle.blogspot.com/.

Thank so much for your support of the Atlanta literary community, and PLEASE
SPREAD THE WORD!

*DIRECTIONS:*

MARTA:
The MARTA stop is Five Points.
Exit onto Marietta St.; the AJC building is less than two blocks west
(left).

TO GET TO THE AJC FROM I-85 or I-75 NORTH:

Take I-85 or I-75 south.

Continue on I-75/I-85 south.

Take EXIT 249C toward WILLIAMS ST./World Congress Ctr./GA Dome/Aquarium.

Stay straight to go onto WILLIAMS ST. NW.

Turn RIGHT on ALEXANDER ST. NW.

Turn LEFT onto CENTENNIAL OLYMPIC PARK DR. NW.

Turn LEFT onto MARIETTA ST. NW.

The AJC is at 72 Marietta St.

See Parking Instructions below.

TO GET TO THE AJC FROM I-75/I-85 SOUTH:

Take I-75/I-85 North.

Take EXIT 246 FULTON ST./CENTRAL AVE. to Downtown.

Ramp forks. Keep left to take CENTRAL AVE. to Downtown/GA Dome.

Turn LEFT on DECATUR ST. Continue.

Road becomes MARIETTA ST. NW.

The AJC is at 72 Marietta St.

See Parking Instructions below.

TO GET TO THE AJC FROM MIDTOWN:

Drive south down PEACHTREE ST.

Turn RIGHT on FORSYTH ST.

Turn RIGHT on MARIETTA ST.

The AJC is at 72 Marietta St.

See Parking Instructions below.

PARKING:

TO GET TO THE 3 FAIRLIE ST. CENTRAL PARKING SYSTEM LOT (located one block
from the AJC; $4 self-pay, all-day. The perfect location & the perfect
price!):

From MARIETTA ST. as you drive southeast and see the AJC building on the
right-hand side:

IMMEDIATELY turn RIGHT on FAIRLIE ST. (the sign will read Fairlie St. NW50;
this is the street that borders the south side of the AJC; the AJC is
bordered on the other side by the State Bar of Georgia ).
Drive one block to the bottom of the hill.

Cross the railroad tracks.

Turn right into the 3 Fairlie St. Central System Parking lot and keep
driving.

Drive under the viaduct (you’ll feel like you’re driving through a tunnel).

At least 200 empty spaces will be available at this little-known,
little-used lot (which is actually underneath the Spring St. bridge—and ONE
BLOCK from the AJC).

Self-pay; $4 for 12 hours. The machine takes dollar bills, coins or credit
cards. It will not issue any change for larger bills. Place the ticket stub
on your dashboard to avoid booting.

TO GET TO THE 3 FAIRLIE ST. CENTRAL PARKING SYSTEM LOT (from Midtown):

Drive south down PEACHTREE ST .

Turn RIGHT on FORSYTH ST .

Turn RIGHT on MARIETTA ST.

Turn LEFT on FAIRLIE ST .

(Follow directions above.)

For an online Citysearch map:
http://maps.citysearch.com/map/search?location=72+Marietta+St.+Atlanta%2C+GA
&searchLocation=Search

DON'T FORGET TO BRING A BOOK!

***
I'll be there and I hope you will join me. Remember to wear your Atlanta
Writers Club T-shirt--we'll have some for sale there in case you need one.

Regards,
George Weinstein
President of The Atlanta Writers Club
http://www.atlantawritersclub.org/