
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, May 12, 1990                   TAG: 9005140200
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A9   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

TOO MANY LETTERS ARE PERSONAL ATTACKS

I HAVE ALWAYS believed that letters to the editor were an extremely effective means of enhancing public perception and providing additional information regarding the most important issues of our day. Since moving to Roanoke in November, however, I have read a number of letters that seem to be designed more as vitriolic attacks on individuals and organizations than as thoughtful contributions to public debate.

Nowhere is this more evident than over the complex issue of abortion. Gross inaccuracies and utter falsehoods characterize many (though not all) of the letters printed on this issue. The worst of these are downright mean-spirited and quite reminiscent of the negative advertising that has grown so popular in recent political elections.

The Roanoke Times & World-News should not be in the business of offering free publicity to individuals choosing to distort and mislead in order to impose their own morality on others. Any newspaper that provides a public forum must recognize and exercise its responsibility to exclude letters containing false accusations and to print letters that are factual, newsworthy and (one hopes) serve the interest of the public.

\ DAVID NOVA\ Director of Public Affairs\ Planned Parenthood of Southwest Virginia\ ROANOKE

by CNB