Rather Helped Foster Media ‘Mediocrity’

Dan Rather says when he is off the tube, “Television news and newspapers are in danger of sinking into a miasma of mediocrity” (Newsmakers, April 10).

But only on little-watched PBS would you hear such a thing on air, then only by Bill Moyers. Rather’s CBS evening news will never talk about the demise and trivialization of the mass media on prime time or any time.

Rather questions pollsters who say, “real people care only about entertainment, sex and cats.” But Rather has played a key role in fostering such a mind-set. He may be a journalist, but he functions as an entertainer, to keep people watching between the advertisements.

ANDREW LIBERMAN, Los Angeles