THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, April 15, 1995 TAG: 9504130009
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A6 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 30 lines
After reading ``Rally counters `war against women''' (news, April 10), I have to wonder what standards you apply to the publication of articles.
While I thought the article was well-written, I take issue with, in describing what was going on at the rally, staff writer Denise Watson picked out a topless woman - apparently to ask her why she was topless - and noted that this woman ``wore a gold ring in her right nipple.''
I can understand writing about women who were topless, because it is pretty unusual to find topless women strolling around in public. But was it really necessary to use such a graphic description of the woman? The mental image it creates certainly is not crucial to the story. If anything, the description borders on obscenity.
If you desire to maintain your integrity as a publication (not to mention your readers), I suggest you exercise a considerable bit more discretion in the graphic detail you choose to include in your stories.
BEN TAYLOR
Virginia Beach, April 10, 1995 by CNB