More Talk, Less Cop

Looking at the Nov. 1 Calendar, I realize one thing: If the medium is not visual, it does not exist for The Times. If it is not on film or TV, it did not happen.

Seems the only time radio gets covered is when it involves a figure as controversial as Gates (controversial not as a talk-show host but as a chief of police turned talk-show host) or as phenomenally successful as Rush Limbaugh.

Meantime, I am sure being kept up to date on the latest game of musical chairs being played by movie and TV executives.

Quite often I read stats about Nielsen ratings, how TV networks worry about the success of their shows and how their viewership is on the decline. While reporting this story, The Times entirely missed another story: the significant rise in the number of radio stations switching to an all-talk format and the increase in the number of people listening to them. More important yet is not just the size of the audience but more so its composition.

I am willing to believe that politically oriented radio talk shows attract more active voters, people who will express their views in the voting booth, than any episode of uh, say, “Murphy Brown.”

Point is, I greatly prefer radio over TV and I am sure there are a sizable number of people who share my preference.

JOE PIELMEIER

Long Beach