If you don't know Hal Fishman, then you probably don't live in the L.A. area. Hal is the long-time anchor and managing editor of KTLA Channel 5's Prime News at 10pm each evening.
Dear Hal:
I've been a long time viewer of Prime News - probably more than 20 years now. I've valued your news judgment and have long felt that Prime News was as balanced a news broadcast as I would hope to see. Your commentaries are usually right on the mark, especially your commentary on Wednesday night regarding the foolishness of the White House press corps in their fevered pursuit of the Dick Cheney hunting accident story.
However, that commentary, titled "What Is News?", came just a few minutes after the third installment of "Heidi's Stud Farm", a 5-part series that Prime News is running this week on former Hollywood Madam Heidi Fleiss' attempts to start a male brothel in Nevada. I have to ask you Hal: Is this news?
This week we've learned about Ms. Fleiss' efforts, designs and plans for her brothel. We've met her first male whore and have watched your young female reporter interview women asking them if they'd ever pay for sex. And tonight, I understand we'll get to find out about male gigolos and how the role Viagra will play in Heidi's Stud Farm.
Mr. Fishman - this kind of "reporting" might work for an HBO show, but it has no place on the evening news. I know it's a sweeps period and I'm sure Prime News wants to beat out its Fox competition. But putting sex-business stories on your newscast is not appropriate and way beneath the high standards you have previously set. Somebody ought to be ashamed.
I hope an apology to the viewers of Prime News will be quickly forthcoming.
Sincerely,
Rick Moore
HolyCoast.com
Friday, February 17, 2006
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