‘NewsHour’ With Lehrer and Taylor

Howard Rosenberg’s article about Stuart Taylor’s fall from grace at “The NewsHour With Jim Lehrer” raised a concern that every news organization should ponder (“A Rare Display of News Ethics,” April 20). In this age of steadily diminishing faith in news media trustworthiness, apparently only a few in the news industry, such as PBS’ Lehrer, can recognize the difference between straight reporting and slanted reporting.

Lehrer, old-fashioned though he may be, did the right thing in giving the obviously biased Taylor the heave-ho as a straight reporter. In doing so, he restored a bit of badly needed trust in news media output.

JERRY CHANEY

Long Beach

*

Generally I agree with Howard Rosenberg, and enjoy his wit and wisdom. However, I must disagree with his take on the firing of Stuart Taylor. I am a regular watcher of “The NewsHour With Jim Lehrer.” I find it to be the most in-depth and intelligent news show around.

One of the highlights was Taylor’s explanation of Supreme Court decisions. He did not talk down to the audience, but made complex legal issues very understandable to nonlawyers. It seems to me that Jim Lehrer, by calling him a “reporter,” was correct, except that Taylor never imposed his political views on anybody. In fact, politics hardly ever entered his reports.

In contrast to Taylor, Doris Kearns Goodwin was busy using her celebrity (mostly due to “NewsHour” exposure) to be on a paid ad for Al Checchi. She was not fired, only told to cease and desist. It seems to me this is a much more blatant action than writing a column stating one’s opinions. After all, what does a columnist do if not state his opinions?

NANCY J. THOMPSON

Irvine

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I loved Rosenberg’s chuckle over Lehrer’s squareness, but I do agree with Lehrer’s decision to fire Taylor. He should have done it two years ago when Taylor started parading Paula Jones as a real victim of sexual harassment by the president and worked on convincing everyone that she had a terrific chance to win her suit.

Taylor used his credit with Lehrer to abuse his show and listeners until, finally, his credit ran out.

BATYA DAGAN

Los Angeles