August 5-11, 2004

mailbag

Letters to the Editor

by the Readers

On the House

I read with great interest Mary Patel's column [Political Notebook, July 22, 2004.] I noted the numerous free meals and events being offered to the Pennsylvania [Democratic National Convention] delegation courtesy of corporate special interests. I'm sure that all of these free catered breakfasts, free lunches, free tea parties and other free soirees will fortify these Democrats when they return home and resume their "class warfare" against these "evil" corporate special interests.
Joseph Chudzinski
Philadelphia

Unfair, Unbalanced: Tha Remix

So, Lee Bender thinks that NPR and WHYY aren't "fair and balanced." [Letters, July 29, 2004]. Why? Because, unlike most of the American media, their lips aren't permanently glued to George W. Bush's ass? Bender talks about the "many" who are "pro-American foreign policy in the war on terror, for American intervention in Iran and Afghanistan."

Well, I can assure him that many more of us are not! (I guess that makes us "communists," "liberals" or "un-American.") Mr. Bender gives away his "Ugly American" mindset when he referred to "Old Europe whining."

Oh, yeah, right — I mean, how dare countries who have been around for hundreds of years longer than the U.S. criticize it? How dare they behave like sovereign nations and refuse to do whatever America orders? Mr. Bender, you really need to get out more and watch something besides the Fascist Nonsense Channel (oops Fox) for a change.
Terry M. Callen
Gloucester City, N.J.

A recent study by the media watchdog Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting showed that NPR doesn't provide as diverse and independent voices as it claims. During June 2003, they selected four news-related shows to determine percentages of public opinions among the guests. Elite sources dominated the guestlist. These sources, including government officials, professional experts and corporate representatives, accounted for 64 percent of all sources. Journalists accounted for seven percent.

Corporate representatives appeared 23 times more than labor representatives. This study also contradicts the claim of NPR's "liberal bias." Of all the partisan opinions, 61 percent were of GOP members vs. 38 percent Democratic. With the exception of the Libertarians, no other partisan source appeared on the four shows.

Your article uses the euphemism "underwriting" to describe what is simply commercial advertising [Cover story, "The Cost to Know WHYY," Amy L. Webb, July 8, 2004]. I have heard ads from major corporations such as a Wal-Mart, which have shown little if any concern for community affairs. If NPR wants to capture more audience in search of "independent" media, perhaps it should look at Pacifica Radio, which does not take corporate contributions and relies almost exclusively on member donations. It is a shame that we lack these stations in Philadelphia.
Carlos Morales-Mateluna
Prospect Park, Pa.

Can't We All Just Get Along?

Re: Loose Canon, "American Jews: Confused, Silent," Bruce Schimmel, July 22, 2004

I want to point out why only two opinions emerge [in debates about Israel and Palestinians]. If you do not agree with the host or guest, you get attacked and badmouthed. I have tried to present the little that is reasonable on both sides only to be told that I do not know what I am talking about. Everyone wants a fight and no middle ground. "Polarized opinions"? Try violently polarized opinions.
Marvin I. Lewis
Philadelphia