Transcript
Letters
August 30, 2002
BROOKE GLADSTONE: And now for a few of your letters. Gavin Cummins of Seattle wrote in to thank us for our interview with a sheriff who reportedly tossed a mom in jail because her kids were sunburned. He writes: "Sunburn and heat stroke are not the same thing, and if the story had been reported as a story instead of as a sound bite, I think the population would have felt differently. There is a growing mistrust of all law enforcement (ironically inflamed by the media and indeed your program). It was a relief to hear that at least one story of an irrational and over-reacting policeman was instead a good man doing his job. Thank you again. No matter how much you may botch a story (as many listeners like to point out) I will always be a passionate listener."
BOB GARFIELD:Uh-- You're welcome? And here's one of those listeners now. Dr. Jeff Orstadt, a neurologist from Napa, California had this to say about our interview with Russ Kick on under-reported stories. "I don't see how Russ Kick can be considered a credible investigative reporter, and I'm surprised he was not taken to task more vigorously on the air. For example, his claim that two American universities have completed research showing that 10 percent of Alzheimer's disease victims actually die from a human form of mad cow disease is either a complete fabrication or an incredibly misguided interpretation of the medical literature. The human form of the disease has been monitored in this country by the Centers for Disease Control since 1990 and to date no cases have been confirmed in the United States."
BROOKE GLADSTONE:And we have this from Vincent Paterno on our interview with George Will on bias in the coverage of the baseball labor negotiations. "As usual, George Will was being his disingenuous self when discussing the media and a possible baseball strike. Not only did he serve on baseball's blue-ribbon panel, but he's also on the boards of the San Diego Padres and Baltimore Orioles. It must be the latter post that explains why, over the years, he has hypocritically been such a strident opponent of the return of major league baseball to Washington, DC, the city he now calls home."
BOB GARFIELD:And this from Laura Miner of New York City. "I am a devoted listener but I was alarmed by your interview with Gerard Jones about kids and violence on TV. This is no laughing matter. If anyone thinks their kids need some violence in order to relax, get them a jack in the box; play them a tape of Haydn's Surprise Symphony; or play tag or hide and go seek. But none of that hyperactive or psychotic TV violence, please, unless you are raising future soldiers that need de-sensitizing."
BROOKE GLADSTONE:And from Herb Engle of Edison, New York we have a suggestion. He writes: "On September 5, 2002, will be the 30th anniversary of the murder of the Israeli athletes at the Munich Olympic Games by Palestinian terrorists. You the media should examine the current coverage of the terrorist attacks to see if they are repeating the mistakes of 1972 by placing more emphasis on the terrorists' message than on the barbarity of their violence against innocents."
BOB GARFIELD:We thought this would be a good time to reflect on the legacy of the Munich Massacre. That's coming up later in the show. Thanks for your letters. Keep them coming to onthemedia@wnyc.org and don't forget to tell us where you live and how to pronounce your name. [MUSIC]
Music Credits:
"Just Like I Pictured It"
by Medeski Martin & Wood