Sportscaster’s Accent Is Just One Problem

Miss Claudia Trejos should only keep her chin up (“Claudia Trejos Keeps Her Chin Up,” Aug. 16) to show her perky, pretty face, because that was the only criterion deciding her position in sportscasting.

The essential prerequisite to broadcasting is articulation, particularly in sportscasting, which is delivered at a speedier pace. The fact that Miss Trejos has an accent is certainly, in my opinion, a disadvantage, but not as egregious as accenting the wrong syllable, running sentences together and mispronouncing words, all of which she is guilty of.

Nevertheless, this is unimportant, according to KTLA’s news director, Jeff Wald. He is far more concerned with her personality, which, he says, has not been able “to develop on the air.” The standards of newscasting are lowering by the day, particularly when you have news directors like Wald whose only concern is not comprehensible broadcasting but personalities and, of course, a pretty face. The adage will endure forever: America the beautiful.

--JOSEPH MIRELLI

Los Angeles

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While I revel in Claudia Trejos’ determination, the fact is she is not qualified to work in the country’s No. 2 media market. As importantly, loyal KTLA viewers should not be subjected to a “sportscaster in training.” Using a sports analogy, you don’t put a junior high school basketball player on the Lakers. Channel 5 has always produced a quality newscast, but in this attempt to satisfy two minority quotas, female and Hispanic, they have lowered this standard dramatically.

--HUGH K. MALAY

Tustin Ranch

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Kudos to Jeff Wald for hiring a Hispanic woman as KTLA’s sports announcer. It’s about time! Claudia Trejos is lively and knowledgeable and makes sports fun to watch. What more could you ask for? (And I love her accent!)

--MIA GOTTLIEB

Arcadia