Dear Source:
Warm congratulations on your "Open Letter to Larry King" (which is also a message to Anderson Cooper, Fox News, Nancy Grace and company). I believe you did an excellent job by exposing a singularly disgusting trend towards mediatization and sensationalism for commercial gain, whatever the cost. Needless to say, I view Larry King's recent "good-to-the-last-breath" interview with Tammy Faye–in savage competition for primetime space with a competing network's rehabilitation of Mark Karr of Jon Benet Ramsey fame–as part and parcel of the same no-holds-barred circus slithering "on the chains" into our homes and psyche, from just after nightfall to well after mid-night on a daily basis!
I am of the view that you have raised a number of highly pertinent issues that the networks must confront, particularly (a) issues having to do with the Public's need to suspend judgement until the facts are known and (b) the way the networks decide on what is newsworthy and what isn't, with the race of those involved not too far in the background.
Like you, I condole with the Cokayne family. Again, however, many thanks for your editorial. Let Justice be served!
Gilbert A. Sprauve
St. John
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