COUNTERPUNCH LETTERS : Grab for Viewers Sacrifices News

As the daughter of the assignment editor (Georges Fischer) at KNXT during the ‘60s and early ‘70s, when news coverage was actually comprehensive and exhibited journalistic skill, I found Saul Halpert’s article (“Two Views of TV News, That ‘Crazy Profession,’ ” Feb. 3) a breath of fresh air to those of us who remember when turning on “The Big News” allowed us a fairly accurate look at the news of each day.

Today’s media marketplace is merely a ratings war--each station attempting to “outdo” the other with provocative stories aimed at grabbing the audience.

As a viewer and political activist, I am often surprised at the actual news stories left uncovered by our local reporters, the number of press conferences held on issues of great importance to our community with little or no attendance by local reporters.

With the average news story often lasting only 30 seconds or less, how can our local media pretend to be reporting the news? When reporters are hired not by their journalistic skill but by their youth and appearance, the product suffers. When media consultants (hired by the large corporations that own the major stations in this country) determine what stories will be covered, freedom of the press no longer exists.

LUCIE FISCHER BAVA

Los Angeles