Letters suggesting new names for
U.S. News and World Report

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

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

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

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

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