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Letters To The Editor

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 7, 2007

Broaden Discussion

Regarding 'Change Rocks Media World' (Commentary, Sept. 30):

Only one and a half members of the Board of Community Columnists were on target. Bryan Griffin, the University of Florida student, earned full credit while the Chamberlain teacher earned partial credit. It is not surprising that most of the comments were wrong or irrelevant. That is typical of newspaper content.

The discussion should have been broader. Over the past 20 years or so the relevant media sources have changed from newspaper and television - old and moldy media - to Internet and radio - new and fresh media. Internet and radio are now the most favored sources of news because of timeliness, depth and accuracy. We don't trust Dan Rather, the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, etc. because they make stuff up.

In the interest of full disclosure, I only read your articles Sunday because the newspaper showed up on my driveway for free.

MARK SIMPSON

Valrico

Still Loves Printed Word

My husband and I love reading the newspaper. We also like reading books and magazines. Radio and television are also sources for news and weather. However, for in-depth news and behind the headlines, we prefer the printed word.

JUDY ULRICH

Sun City Center

Just Report The News

I enjoyed the articles on the future of journalism. Clearly, newspapers will only survive if they focus on what they do best, which is to cover local news with integrity and professionalism. Unfortunately, by printing poorly written articles with headlines such as 'Tampa House Prices to Fall 20 Percent Next Year,' The Tampa Tribune often falls short of that goal.

I wish the Tribune understood that economists cannot predict the future any better than weather 'experts' can predict next year's hurricanes. A newspaper should report the news, not attempt to make news by presenting sensationalized predictions as fact.

A newspaper that wants to survive should support the local economy, not seek to undermine it. At least it should always present both sides. In my opinion, Tampa house prices will be higher next year.

RAY GUISTINA

Odessa

Sorting Out Agendas

Having read community columnist Bryan Griffin's 'The Blue-Bleeding Media' commentary, I wondered when he did any survey in order to conclude, 'The American public is fed up with the liberal agenda pushed by the majority of American big-city news sources.' He just loves to use that word 'liberal,' doesn't he?

If there is a liberal agenda, as Griffin seems to think, then what is the conservative agenda? I've always held to the philosophy of 'believe what you see, not what you hear.' What I saw was that the Republicans (conservatives) had control of Congress and the presidency for years and they spent more tax money than Democrats ever did. I saw President Bush put troops in Iraq after lying about the reason to be there, with no end in sight.

If this is the conservative agenda, give me the liberal agenda any day.

JOHN WYATT

Riverview

An Obvious Bias

Why do so many people either cancel subscriptions or doubt the credibility of newspapers? I believe one reason is the obvious bias displayed by most newspapers, including your own.

For example, your primary political writer is William March. He is very liberal and when he writes he uses a left-wing perspective. March uses the word conservative in nearly every article he writes while rarely identifying any person or group as liberal. For example, in the Sept. 29 paper he labeled people and groups conservative six times. Although he wrote about Kathy Castor and the very liberal 'Media Matters for America,' he never used the term liberal.

LAWRENCE P. MARLIN

Palm Harbor

Jealous Of New Airport?

Regarding '$120 Million For Airport: Necessity Or Waste?' (front page, Oct. 3):

Google alerts me to news about Panama City. A number of times I've noticed links to Tampa-area media with stories complaining about our new airport. Not everyone here supports it, but the present airport is not up to FAA code, so it is needed for future growth.

I think you guys are just jealous. Regardless, I'm interested to know why Tampa is griping so much when nearly nobody else is. Everyone's entitled to their own opinion - don't get me wrong on that point.

ISAAC EILAND-HALL

Panama City

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