Producing the News

I humbly submit the following to the producers of local newscasts in an effort to increase audiences:

1. Stop the chatter, comments and various asides by the newscasters. We are not interested.

2. Limit the weather reports to three minutes. We don’t care what the temperature will be in central Maine four days ahead. And no exotic graphics, please.

3. Stop acting as a jumping-off place for would-be comedians. Jokesters have their place, but it’s not as part of a newscast.

4. Never, ever get rid of a newscaster of the caliber of John Marshall. Where are your priori ties ?

5. Outlaw the idiotic practice of trying to “interview” someone who has just seen his home destroyed by fire by asking, “How do you feel about this?” This rude, demeaning, intrusive behavior is embarrassing to the viewer. Stop it. BEVERLY A. RUGGLES

Fullerton