To the Editor:
After reading Dr. Lynda Williams' article in the February 23rd issue of The Dartmouth entitled "Treatment by the Press," I find it sad that I must concur with her poor opinion of the media. All too often reports are published or aired with out facts being confirmed. The desire to be the first with the news or to grab the headlines for sensationalism has become more important than the facts. This is apparent in Dr. Williams' article. This is also seen time and time again in breaking stories on TV and in newspaper headlines. The Florida vote is a prime example of leaking information before the facts have been ascertained. Yet peoples' names are being bandied about in the name of news without any thought of the repercussions to these individuals and their families. When do we see retractions and/or apologies in headlines as big as the ones that threw these names to the hounds in the first place? We don't and it's a shame. How many lives will have to be damaged or ruined by this sensationalism before the media admits they were a part of it and they were wrong?
