Minorities on Television

Henry Mendoza’s vision of local television is an invention that exists only in his mind (“Minority Journalists: Poor, Disaffected of Media,” May 18). According to him, all the reporters are raw recruits, children, not able to understand minorities; all the minority reporters are disaffected and unhappy. Obviously, he sees a wasteland peopled by white faces.

Mendoza seems to think that ethnic reporters are entitled to more positions on the basis of their race. He seems unaware that there are many so-called ethnic reporters on television. I jotted down the names of all those I could see as I watched programs, and I was amazed at the large numbers I saw. I am sure that I missed some, but I would say that the 37 ethnic reporters / anchors counted make up a healthy representation of opportunity.

Mendoza is listed as having worked as a news director at KBAK in Bakersfield and KCBS-TV and KABC-TV. Obviously, the doors of opportunity were not slammed in his face.

ROGER E. GOULET

Los Angeles