Letters suggesting new names for
U.S. News and World Report
Apr. 16, 1999
Dear Sirs,
Your April 26th cover picturing a woman
cupping her ears as if she is trying to hear something came as a
surprise to me. Shouldn't U.S. News and World Report be
foregrounding what is obviously the most important U.S. and
international issue these days? How about covering the pacifist
marches that are happening in the U.S. and abroad? As usual your
magazine has failed to report critical views that do not represent
the interests of the military/industrial/media complex. Perhaps we
should rename your magazine "U.S. News that's popular with Our
Advertisers"? Personally, I believe the woman on your cover is
merely trying to hear you speak up for Americans who don't believe
dropping bombs is the solution to all problems.
Andy C. Deck, Artist
Mar 19, 1999
Dear U.S. News and World Report,
Your slight coverage of the NEA's cowardly
and wrong decision to de-fund the childrens book written by
Subcomandante Marcos of the Chiapas Zapatistas deserves criticism.
It begins "The content raised no objections," and indeed, the
accusative tone aimed at the author was objectionable for its lack
of content. Do your writers actually take the time to study world
events and politics? If not you should change the name of your
magazine to "Light Bourgeois Distillations of the Wire Service
Feeds." Couldn't you muster a rebuke or countervailing opinion to
the NEA Chairman's ignorant assessments?
Andy C. Deck, Artist
Feb 8, 1999
Dear Sirs,
When I subscribed to U.S. News and World
Report, I had no idea it would have so little to do with U.S. and
international news! The recent riff you did on the House Beautiful
style of magazine is a case in point. The issue read like a sales
catalog, for 3Com products, for the Buy.com web site, and for
various home furnishings.
I'd like you to know that I deserve to get
more news out of your magazine! Tell me about what is happening in
the Niger Delta, in the Republic of Congo, and Columbia--that is if
you have corrspondents in those places. I have begun to think that
your only correspondents are in the marketing divisions of
multi-national corporations.
Andy C. Deck, Artist
Their response 4 months
later
Wed May 26
From: Reader Service Mail (rdsvmail@usnews.com)
Subject: Re: Fixing Up, Ha Ha!
We appreciate that you shared your concerns about the subject
matters being reported on, specifically those referenced from our
February 15, 1999 issue.
Our purpose at U.S. News is to provide accurate and timely
coverage of a wide range of topics, and to allow our readers to
make up their own minds from the facts presented.
Critical or complimentary (sic), it is helpful to hear from
readers. I hope that you will continue to follow U.S. News, and
that you will find we are still offering the candid and accurate
journalism you value.
Sinc erely,
Victoria Pope
Managing Editor via
THE EDITORIAL AND READER SERVICES DEPARTMENT
Back
|