Hey--You Missed ‘Life & Times’

Reporters Greg Braxton and Claudia Puig, in citing a dozen television and radio stations, seem to have gone to considerable effort in their survey of how L.A.’s electronic journalism covers our diverse communities. Their finding: Our ethnic urban communities still wait for someone to report on the real news and issues affecting them. The Times reporters might have reached a different conclusion had they looked through reviews and clippings from their own newspaper. They would have been reminded of the one TV series that has made its mark because of its focus on the complexity of our region and peoples. Times critic Howard Rosenberg called this series “L.A.’s Masterpiece Theatre . . . a picture of L.A. far richer and more diverse than is available anywhere else on local television . . . a role model for the city’s commercial stations.”

The program is KCET Channel 28’s “Life & Times,” which airs weeknights at 7:30 p.m. The series, which debuted in January 1992, was conceived with very specific objectives in mind: to spotlight the accomplishments, attitudes and goals of the people who make up this vast multicultural community. Three nights a week, our hosts--Patt Morrison (also a Times reporter), Hugh Hewitt and Ruben Martinez--engage in spirited dialogue about our region. They also invite guests that Times reporters Braxton and Puig conclude are missing in electronic journalism. Looking for civic leaders? Activists? Thinkers? Business people?

How about Susan Anderson, community activist; Danny Bakewell of the Brotherhood Crusade; Yvonne Braithwaite Burke, L.A. County supervisor; authors Mike Davis or Carlos Fuentes; Xavier Hermosillo, of NEWS for America; Mike Hernandez, L.A. City Council member; Joe Hicks of Southern Christian Leadership Conference; Bernard Kinsey of Rebuild L.A.; Takashi Kiuchi, chairman and CEO of Mitsubishi; Joel Kotkin, economist and author; Monica Lozano, editor, La Opinion; Gloria Molina, L.A. County supervisor; Angela Oh, activist and attorney; Edward James Olmos, actor-director; Leticia Quezada, L.A. Board of Education; Richard Rodriguez, author; Juanita Tate, director of Concerned Citizens of South Central; Carlos Vaquerano of the Central American Refugee Center; Maxine Waters, U.S. representative, or Jerry Yu, Korean American Coalition?

When “Life & Times” is not in the studio, it’s out in our communities making documentaries (which air Tuesdays and Thursdays). These documentaries focus on individuals who, through hard work and determination, are achieving, succeeding and strengthening their neighborhoods.

Our city’s media aren’t doing enough to cover nonviolent stories about the inner city. We all can do better. But let’s give credit where it’s due to “Life & Times,” a pioneering effort in TV journalism that is not only different but is making a difference for all of Los Angeles.