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Brian Williams, the anchor and managing editor of NBC Nightly News, argued that the new world of user-generated and personally customized media may keep us from noticing events and ideas of universal importance [Dec. 25, 2006--Jan. 1, 2007]. Williams wonders what effect that will have on our democracy, but such arrogance is the very reason for the mass exodus of viewers from the old TV networks and other traditional news outlets to new sources like cable TV, talk radio and the Internet. Choice fortifies rather than harms democracy. Williams seems to want to return to the day when the Big Three networks would force-feed us a single view of the news. The only thing the new media are hurting is his ratings. If Williams wants to know why he works so hard yet reaches fewer viewers, he should read his own article with an open mind.
GARY MARCHUK
Alpharetta, Ga.
Kudos to Williams for an excellent article and extremely valid points. There is real danger in swimming only in your own pool, so to speak. America is great because of our diversity, and we lose that if we don't try to spend some time talking to people about things we don't already know everything about. If everyone always holds the same views and pays attention solely to sources that agree with those opinions, there can be no discussion. And if there is no discussion, what does that mean for democracy?
MATT EVENTOFF
Lawrenceville, N.J.
The mainstream media have created their own problems by trying to influence political policy. The editorial page has legitimacy, but when every journalist tries to push a point of view in every story, there's no reason that ordinary people shouldn't also find their editorial voice and get on a soapbox of their own. Real journalism is about presenting the public with facts, not arguments.
CLAUDE LAPIERRE
Columbia, Conn.
War Reporting
In "The Real War" [Dec. 25, 2006--Jan. 1, 2007], author Bob Woodward said, "It is almost a war without a home front ... There is almost a sense that we're not at war. I can't explain that phenomenon, but I find it deeply troubling." What's so difficult? If this truly were a national effort, everyone would be asked to sacrifice, and that would mean a draft, so the burden would be shared equally. But the Administration is afraid to even breathe the word draft for one simple reason: the war in Iraq is so unpopular, no one would go. People would vote with their feet, and that would make Bush and other lawmakers face up to the disaster that this has become.
JIM CALIO
Marina del Rey, Calif.
The roundtable of authors' views on the war in Iraq contradicted the notion that "you" or "we" were most important in 2006. The points raised were about our society. It was simply not possible to argue against the war in 2003. One was either "with us or against us." Intelligent discussion was pre-empted. So the issue is not about journalism and the courage to express different opinions but about self-censorship and the crushing of unpopular opinions.
PHILIPPE CHANIET
Narita, Japan