Letters: Aug. 30, 1982

Turner's TV

To the Editors:

Ted Turner [Aug. 9] has done in two years what the Big Three networks could not do in 30. He has given the American people nonpackaged news reports 24 hours a day. Eventually, network news executives will learn that flashy video graphics and handsome anchors by themselves do not constitute good journalism. Go get 'em, Ted.

Francis P. Ruggiero

Delhi, N. Y.

For years the West Coast had to be content with stale news from tapes that were hours old. Now CNN delivers news with old-fashioned objective reporting. It makes no attempt to preform viewers' opinions, as the networks do. It permits us to form our own. This may be the greatest contribution that could be made to the electronic news industry.

Leonard I. Kercheval Jr.

Bellevue, Wash.

I cannot believe TIME wasted a cover story extolling such a cold, mercenary personality. The boom in cable TV is due to its buying up broadcast rights to sports events and movies; the public used to watch them for nothing, and now we are charged for them. All too often cable manifests the same mentality that converts apartments into expensive condos or encourages gas stations to charge us for air.

Josh Critzer

Pittsburgh

Ted Turner may be changing the face of TV news, but I'll bet Anchor Roz Abrams was certainly surprised to see her face used with Reynelda Muse's name in the picture with Bob Cain. Indeed, both ladies are beautiful and articulate, but each has her own special identity, and their viewers know which is Rey and which is Roz.

Mrs. Noel Pfeifer

Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Middle East Mission

I am deeply dismayed by the coverage of the congressional fact-finding trip to the Middle East [Aug. 9]. TIME failed to report the range of our activities and the numerous leaders we met. Ours was the first American delegation to see the destruction in West Beirut. We were also the first group to tour Lebanon under American and Lebanese auspices only. Among the findings of our mission: 1) the senseless bloodshed and destruction are overwhelming, 2) humanitarian aid is desperately needed and is not reaching those who have been victimized by the war, and 3) there is a unique phenomenon in Israel promoted by civilians and politicians seeking peace, the Peace Now movement.

I also take issue with your suggestion that I am anti-Israel by calling me and Representative Nick Rahall "persistent critics of Israel." When I voted against the AW ACS sale to Saudi Arabia, did that mean I was anti-Arab?

Mary Rose Oakar

Representative, District, Ohio

Washington, D.C.

Your article inaccurately indicates that all members on the congressional fact-finding mission to the Middle East were in agreement in their perceptions of the situation there and that they acted in concert in dealing with leaders of the warring factions. That was clearly not the case. From the beginning, I saw the meeting with Yasser Arafat as a propaganda ploy by the P.L.O., and I chose not to attend it. I immediately denounced the document that Congressman Pete McCloskey obtained from Arafat as nothing new and possibly a harmful deception.

Elliott H. Levitas

Representative, Fourth District, Georgia

Washington, D.C.