| Letter | Writer |
|---|
| A Question of Credibility (1) |
Mary Louise Turner - St. Bonaventure, NY |
| After reading Rod Townley’s article on the El Salvador coverage ["Playing Latin Roulette in El Salvador," May 9] and watching network coverage of this war [and other events], I became convinced that the networks are using their younger, less experienced correspondents to lure younger viewers and that these immature newsmen have decided to follow the easy path to news stardom, which consists of getting that "big scoop" and of being seen frequently. The price they pay for following this path is a loss of credibility. |
| A Question of Credibility (2) |
Myrna E. Stewart - Russell, KY |
| Having just read Townley’s article, I was anguished by the quote from Christopher Dickey of The Washington Post regarding my late husband, Bill Stewart of ABC News. Bill had been a respected and admired reporter for 16 years at the time of his death. He had covered numerous assignments for ABC in such places as Lebanon, Israel, Tehran and Nicaragua. He was the recipient of two National Investigative Reporting Awards from the Radio Television News Directors Association, was honored by the Overseas Press Club for his thorough and courageous work in Nicaragua and received a Maria Moors Cabot Special Citation for excellence in journalism. These are not the credentials of a man who, according to Dickey, "didn’t know the ropes [and] didn’t know what he was doing./ |
| He's Available... |
Bruce G. Hallenbeck - Valatie, NY |
| If the American public fails to recognize the obvious charm and ability of Cathy Lee Crosby ["She’s Even More Amazing than a Frog That Meows," May 2], it’s only because some American males feel threatened by competitive, intelligent women. I'm a redblooded American male and I, for one, find her incredibly sexy. I’m a diehard romantic, too, and I’d be happy to be her Prince Charming—any time. |
| ...And She's Indignant |
Kathy Schultz - Los Angeles, CA |
| I take exception to Nurse producer Robert Halmi's comment ["Goodbye, Waltons Mountain; Hello, Concrete Canyon,” April 25] that he can't recall any other realistic dramatic series to have featured a strong female lead. Halmi has forgotten Amy Prentiss, with Jessica Walter as a chief of detectives; McNaughton's Daughter, with Susan Clark as a deputy D.A.; and Julie Farr, M.D., with Susan Sullivan as a pediatrician. Can someone tell me why such shows, all featuring attractive, intelligent’ women, are so short-lived? Perhaps the vast majority is more comfortable with "adolescent fantasies” [like The Bionic Woman]. |
| Make Longer Newscasts Deeper |
M.K. McClintick - Indianapolis, IN |
| A full hour of evening news? As you mentioned ["As We See It," May 9], there’s probably just as much to report at day’s end [as at dawn], but it should be reported, not just mentioned in passing. Thirty minutes of 1 for 2-] minute stories is uninformative enough as it is. The commercial networks [should] follow the example of PBS's MacNeil/Lehrer Report and go in-depth [on stories], at least during part of the hour. |
| One Family's 'Hero' |
Bruce T. Jensen - Arlington Heights, IL |
| Robert MacKenzie’s negative assessment of The Greatest American Hero ["Review," May 9] [reveals] an insulated critic accustomed to today’s formula TV fare. While Hero may not win any Emmys, we have found it a refreshingly fun program that the whole family looks forward to watching together. |
