‘Stench’ or Success? Views on ‘Hard Copy’

I have just finished reading Brian Lowry’s column about the demise of “Hard Copy” (“The Tawdry, Tabloid Legacy of ‘Hard Copy,’ ” Aug. 31). As a former intern-assistant producer over there, let me tell you that to dismiss it as a flashy and contentless show with a “stench” that will go on even after its death is missing the point.

As Lowry noted, the line between tabloid shows and “legitimate” news programs has been blurred. What really was the big difference in the first place? I’m positive that the legit programs pay for interviews just like the tabloids. The legit programs used paparazzi footage just like the tabloids. The stories “Dateline NBC” covered had already been reported on “Hard Copy” months before.

We did indeed do insightful, thoughtful and meaningful pieces on “Hard Copy,” but those kind of stories never make for an interesting news article (yet another similarity between legit and tabloid?). Sure there was the obligatory celebrity scandal to dish about, but there was also the “Joey needs a lung . . . keep my soup kitchen open . . . greyhounds are being abused on the racetrack” kinds of stories that really made my time there worthwhile.

Did we go over the line sometimes? Probably. Did we make a celebrity angry at us? Most definitely. But did we get people talking about things the next day? Did we sustain ourselves for 10 years, which in this business is nearly impossible to do, by being on the edge, discovering controversial stories and entertaining our way into the record books of pop culture? Yes, indeed.

LILLI HARRIS

Los Angeles

Bravo Brian Lowry on his column bemoaning the legacy of shows like “Hard Copy.”

Every night my husband and I despair of the lack of journalistic ethics in the evening news shows; we have been quickly switching the channel whenever the latest “tragedy pictures” pop up showing us the horrible incident that occurred in a village in remote Timbuktu. Or the latest freeway chase. Or the latest million-dollar movie star running a red light. We refuse to watch it.

And we, along with Lowry, bemoan the days when we could get actual news on our news shows. Even in the ‘50s, when they were only on for 15 minutes instead of two hours, we got more real information. They should all be ashamed of themselves.

JUDITH DRAKE

Burbank

I think it’s ironic that Lowry takes such glee in dancing on “Hard Copy’s” grave the very day the entire media is falling all over itself to manipulate the second anniversary of Lady Diana’s death.

NELSON ASPEN

Los Angeles