Delaying the news

Now breaking news stories must be edited for content; no longer can an interviewee show his gut reactions and passion for the situation. Thanks a lot, Janet. Your right to “free speech” cost me my right to free listening.

Scott K. Flaschner

Woodland Hills

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The decision by media giant Viacom to tape-delay live broadcasts at its two Los Angeles news radio stations (“KNX, KFWB Ban Live News,” by Greg Braxton, Feb. 21) points to a troubling trend of big-business inbreeding that weakens the citizenry’s constitutional right to free speech.

Viacom President Mel Karmazin feels compelled to protect us from ourselves when he ought to be protecting himself from his own employees.

Because of isolated indiscretions by Viacom’s on-air employees, and their subsidiary’s (MTV) intentionally controversial Super Bowl halftime show, news interview subjects and listener callers to Viacom’s radio stations must pay the price by facing potential censorship.

This corporate offense is intended only to protect Viacom’s bottom line and, sadly, comes at the expense of their listeners’ right to free expression on publicly licensed airwaves.

Ted Bonnitt

Santa Monica

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Most listeners will applaud Viacom’s move to clean up the airwaves. Many of those who will cry “foul!” probably are.

Evie De Poister

Santa Monica

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What has our country come to when institutionally respected radio news stations banish live newscasts and interviews? I thought the Republicans were supposed to keep government out of our lives, not monitor every spoken word.

Brandford Broyles

Glendale