Scrutinizing Television’s Coverage of Persian Gulf War

The war in the gulf has been swell so far. To hear the air raid sirens blaring with cameras pointed to the sky live is thrilling. (It’s important to have the right popcorn on hand.)

There are lags, of course: dull government spokesmen, U.N. updates, church services. But watching those brave correspondents risking their lives, without gas masks, is Pulitzer Prize stuff.

Will they be blown apart right before our eyes? I hope not. But it would bring the whole thing up a notch, wouldn’t it? The ground war that’s coming, however, promises a fresh new angle once the air war gets to be routine.

BILL DYER

Los Angeles