Transcript
BOB GARFIELD: And now for a few of your letters. On our story about the past and future of the nightly network news, Maria Garcia of New York City said we displayed evidence of the "digital divide." Quote: "Do you really imagine your listeners have the time to blog? You reported the ways in which the Internet is changing the public's access to news and about the average person's disgust with avuncular news anchors. "I couldn't agree more. I don't watch network news. I watch The Lehrer NewsHour and BBC News and I listen to "On the Media." I read The New Yorker. Some days when I'm not down on the New York Times, I read it online. But I don't have time to blog, and frankly, I'm not interested in reading everybody else's opinion of what's going on."
BROOKE GLADSTONE: We also received some very specific suggestions from listener Katherine Barrett [sp?] on what would constitute an effective news anchor for our time. She writes, "We trust John Stewart but we don't see him as a teacher or mentor. We want our journalists, especially our TV news anchors, to be both teacher/mentors and to encourage us to know more and think deeply, but we must also trust what they say. I think a wise, strong, no-nonsense black woman about 50 to 60 would be the best bet as the new model of anchor. What she could bring across would be: she has your best interests at heart and she has also played the game well enough to rise to the top so she can also help you navigate this complicated world."
BOB GARFIELD: And finally this from Ron Eligator [sp?] of Larchmont, New York, who says he usually listens online. He says he's wondered for a long time why he likes the show so much. Ron, sometimes it's not so clear to us either. But he finally came up with a reason. Quote: "For example, your story on a PhRMA guy commissioning a novel about terrorists tainting prescription drugs from Canada would be suitable for your April Fools show - if it weren't true. Thank you." No, Ron, thank you - and everyone else - for their comments and criticisms and occasional compliments. Keep sending them to onthemedia@wny.org, and don't forget to tell us where you live and how to pronounce your name. [MUSIC UP AND UNDER]
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