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WRITE BACK AT YOU
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of the individual broadcaster. Yet listeners can and do supply the brush and paint pot of their own pet peeves. How else can you explain the fact that these two letters were received following the broadcast of one par' ticular item.
"Dear Mr. Singiser:
"You called the greatest man of this age a Dictator. This is irritatingly false. Every intelligent person knows it. And you call yourself an Educator. I say Glory to Josef Stalin . . . "Frank Singhyser:
"When you bark like a dog to a full moon through the radio, you arc not barking at Jews only. The real Christians are not listening to your dreaming news, and these real Americans will not fight for Stalin and Churchill, and your dirty lies can't persuade us ... "
There are many listeners who are sure that the newscaster is pro-this or pro'that, but definitely not pro-Vv/hat' ever the listener is. Newscasters are ■ truly all things to all people, I guess.
"Mr. F. Zinghiser:
"Our paper stated that 50,000 Germans were slayed but I didn't hear you even mention it on your report. What's the matter? Do you feel sorry for them? . . . We don't want to listen to the aides of Germany. . . . You dirty Hitler spy. . . ."
That letter was received some months ago. But in the same week's mail, this also was charged against me :
"Dear Sir:
"If your sponsor forbids you to report Russian victories they can keep their product. I notice an under-current in broadcasts that soft-pedals Russian news. We Americans want and expect the news . . . The Nazis always seem to get their share of publicity ..."
The news of Mr. Churchill's first visit to Washington brought forth these two reactions:
". . . How long do we have to put up with your anti-British propaganda; it is getting sickening . . ."
"Sir:
"Or should I say, My Lord and recognize your leanings. Why don't you try just once to give impartial news in your broadcasts? People generally agree with me that your reports are biased always in favor of Britain, boasting here, boasting there; bragging here, bragging there. I am sick of it all . . ."
Of course, many letters are just warm expressions of appreciation and interest from friendly people. These letters are always nice to read. Occasionally a letter from one of the unseen audience marks the beginning of an acquaintanceship or even a lifelong friendship.
I will never forget one such incident. During the American invasion of Italy, I mentioned on the air the name of one of our young Army officers. He had been credited with stopping the Nazi tanks that counterattacked our first landing on the