Spin on TV Violence

Re Brian Lowry’s article on the UCLA television violence study (“Study Finds Improvement in Handling of On-Air Violence,” Jan. 14): Although Lowry regularly reports on television, he obviously is caught in this archaic notion that journalism is supposed to be objective and fair.

The “real” truth about the UCLA study was reported Tuesday night on KTLA-TV Channel 5. Trusted journalist Hal Fishman shared with me and my fellow Angelenos the fantastic news that KTLA, through its affiliation with the WB Network, was contributing to a lessening of violent programming on TV. In an exciting and exclusive video clip, KTLA’s beaming station manager backed up Hal’s newsworthy proclamation, noting that WB’s programming had received complimentary mention in the UCLA study. I went to bed happy.

Alas, I woke up to read Lowry’s story, discovering that he botched the real importance of this newsworthy event. He had the audacity to write that 11 syndicated series, including “Xena” and “Hercules,” which air on KTLA, had prompted concern among the UCLA researchers; so, too, had the heavily promoted WB-KTLA show “Buffy, the Vampire Slayer.”

Shame on Lowry! Hasn’t The Times taught him that all journalism today should mimic the excitement of television and that shameless self-promotion in the pursuit of profit is what journalism is all about?

KEN WATERS

Newbury Park