SATURDAY LETTERS : NEWS NEWS

This is the news, folks:

Teen-age hookers in the Valley: Tune in at 11.

Nude beaches: Tune in at 11.

Teen-age sex: Tune in at 11.

Celebrity AIDS victim of the month: Tune in at 11.

Cocaine in the fast lane: Tune in at 11.

Cats with AIDS: Tune in at 11.

Taxi dancers: Tune in at 11.

Taxi dancers with AIDS: Tune in at 11.

Phone sex: Tune in at 11.

Valet vandals: Tune in at 11.

Valet vandals with AIDS: Tune in at 11.

Teen-age valet vandals with AIDS: Tune in at 11.

Sunset and LaBrea/fast food, fast women: Tune in at 11.

How desperate can you get? Is anybody else getting sick of this? Television news has become the New York Post incarnate (or is it the National Enquirer?).

This unnecessary sensationalism for the sake of ratings is contributing to collective stupidity. It also trivializes important events and takes away from the credibility of the network’s news team.

Smarten up, guys.

CINZIA ZANETTI

Los Angeles