TV’s Coverage on Day the Earth Shook

We were lucky--the 6.6 earthquake didn’t really make it to south Orange County, but kudos to our local TV stations for their outstanding coverage of the earthquake stories! I spent the entire day and evening glued to their broadcasts. They even outdid their wonderful job on the recent fires.

Thanks again, L.A. commercial TV stations!

RICHARD P. HARMAN

Monarch Bay

The recent earthquake in Northridge was a true tragedy, but there was another tragedy that day: the television news coverage. Hour after hour of continuous news coverage after the first three hours was ridiculous. Especially since it was all the same information. This in itself was bad enough, but when on Channel 7 the newscaster started listing the victims of the quake and what they had died of, that was too much. Wasn’t it bad enough that these people died?

I do think that updates during the day would have sufficed. I would like to applaud Channel 13. In the early evening they finally returned to regular programs. Enough is enough.

SHELLEY D. JAMES

Irvine

I wish to express my gratefulness to Huell Howser for his positive programming after the earthquake!

While the different newscasters were interviewing angry, complaining, discouraged earthquake victims, Howser was interviewing hearty, courageous, optimistic victims who were not planning to move nor were giving up.

Three cheers to Huell, who continually brings uplifting coverage of L.A.

NANCY SELE

Los Angeles

At about 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 21, I was watching television and trying to relax. Like most of my fellow Angelenos, my nerves were so sensitive that I heard my neighbor, five houses down, sneeze.

During a commercial break, Harold Greene of KABC News came on the air to do a promo for the 11 p.m. news. His words were: “Is your water safe to drink? Tune in at 11 and find out.”

Am I the only one who feels abused by this? Is this promo the same as being charged $3 for a $1 bottle of water? Why shouldn’t I get such relevant and important news when it becomes available? Why must we be tortured for the sake of the news show’s ratings? This type of promo has always bothered me, but I found it particularly abusive that night.

JOHN J. PERNIN

Pacific Palisades