Bloom’s Objection

Thomas K. Arnold’s article on KCST-TV General Manager Bill Fox (“Spoof Adds Spice to Station’s Ad Ban,” April 11), contained quotations attributed to me. That story and a sidebar story both resulted from a series of telephone interviews with Mr. Arnold. At no time did he indicate to me, or to my colleagues at XTRA, that Bill Fox was the true focus of his mission.

What was ostensibly a feature report on the new XTRA-AM radio team was in fact a “hit” piece aimed at Bill Fox. While my relationship with Mr. Fox remains strained since my departure from KCST-TV, I find Mr. Arnold’s attack on him to be far below the journalistic standard of The Times.

True, the Bloom and Harrigan radio program has poked fun at TV general managers, and at Bill Fox in particular. But I have never referred to general managers, or anyone, as “dimwitted, nimble-footed jerks.” The fictional characters on our morning program are composites--meant to be satirical, not vindictive.

In the two-month period that transpired between Mr. Arnold’s interview and the printing of his story, KCST-TV did agree to accept advertising from Mexican-licensed radio stations. Mr. Arnold should have known that.

I’m sorry that your reporter missed a good feature story about two veteran broadcasters who have found a new home. Not as sensational, perhaps, but a good story.

PAUL BLOOM

San Diego