I'm not trying to tell you how to run a newspaper, but here are a few things you might like to consider when assigning stories:
(1) When sending a writer to write about sports, they should know about the sport. (2) When sending a writer to write about the financial world, they should understand finances. (3) When sending a writer to write about people, they should have a personality. (4) When sending a writer to write anything, they should be able to put together a clear, concise, well-thought-out, researched article. So what's your excuse for D.J. Wilson?
By the way, tell your arrogant, pompous, crusading "journalist" that as a PSL- and season-ticket-holder in seats all the way at the top in Section 416, neither myself, my friends nor anyone else in that stadium, from the people in the luxury boxes to the men and women selling popcorn, are your so-called "little people." What a jackass.
Craig Pennington
HOT PLATE
Bravo! Bravo! Bravo! Jill Posey-Smith happens to be a rare breed (honest food critic). Her description of St. Louis Connoisseur ("Cafe," RFT, Feb. 2) was right on. From their inception they have solicited our business. We have four barbecue restaurants in the St. Louis area. Their sales pitch is prefaced with "We are starting a new magazine which will feature only St. Louis' finest restaurants and would like to do an article on your establishment." Sounded great to me. But as the pitch continued, it became apparent what they were "selling." I finally cut my salesperson off and asked some pertinent questions about our food/menu that made it obvious to me that she had never eaten our food, so I asked if she had and she said no, not yet. I said, what if our barbecue really sucks and we give your mag a black eye? She assured me that as busy as I was, it must be good. Now there's a critic. I asked if she had eaten in all the other restaurants that she signed up, and she said a few. I asked for a list and was refused. I said, what if all the restaurants you signed up suck and I get burned by association? She got mad and left. I, on the other hand, enjoyed the repartee.
I read Jill's article on J. Buck's and had to laugh out loud often. Sadly, restaurateurs love to read about the misfortunes of other restaurants. If she really tried 10 dishes, as she stated, and I'm sure she did (honest food critic), they had plenty of chances. It must be hard to be negative about an advertiser or future one. I would not want to try to peddle an ad with J. Buck's, if I worked for the RFT, in the foreseeable future. Having said that, I would also ask that Jill stay out of our restaurants. Please don't confuse this with a "don't throw me into the briar patch" kind of logic. We had a fine article by Joe Bonwich some years back and are willing to leave well enough alone. Like the lady from St. Louis Connoisseur said, business is good. I really only took the time to write this letter to thank Jill for being honest and brave (honest restaurateur) in what has become a diluted profession.
David Seitz
Bandana's Bar-B-Q
GETTING STATIC
I read with great interest your article on KDHX radio ("Sound Salvation," RFT, Feb. 2).
"The schedule is much more user-friendly," says Bev Hacker.
"I think our role is, first and foremost, to present things you won't get anywhere else," says Hacker.
"I know how important radio is to people," says Tony Renner.
"... we are a station for the listeners," says Hacker.
On my part, I offer a hearty and enthusiastic "Bullshit!" to their statements. KDHX did start out as a station of the people, by the people and for the people. Nowadays it's become a "me first, screw you" kind of place in that management has recently killed some popular, long-running shows (Nocturnal Designz, The Brain Sandwich Show and Music of India) based on personal preferences and/or prejudices. Never mind that these shows had core audiences and apparent monetary support from the public. The message we can cull from this is "Listeners be damned -- we do what we want!" So much for the concept of "community" radio.
Until better, more thought-out changes are made, I guess KDHX is going to turn out to be 24 hours of the Bev Hacker/Tony Renner Show. Thanks, but no thanks.
Waiter, check please.
Larson E. Whipsnade
