No panel needed to replace Fletcher
Please! A search committee?
We have a professional staff in place. Progress is being made. It isn’t an easy fix.
Do not sabotage the current system. David Roddy is the natural replacement for Fred Fletcher.
He is the consummate professional. He is focused on community relations to overcome the issues with which the public is concerned.
He should be strongly considered to replace Fred Fletcher.
Mike Carter
***
Big media reporting is only propaganda
It is very eye-opening to observe what is going on with many of the news organizations since the election, such as CNN, NBC, CBS, ABC, The New York Times and The Washington Post.
They are clearly intent on destroying President Trump if they can. Their reporting is geared to be totally critical toward the president.
Their method of twisting, distorting and exaggerating accounts about the president is always geared to convey the negative. Much of their reporting focuses on the petty.
It appears that these institutions want to have the power to control and influence public opinion. They want the American public to be hit with constant, unending “doom and gloom” every single day so that they might feel they had to vote for change at the next election.
These media outlets are no longer involved in “news reporting.” They are involved solely in propaganda reporting for the purpose of influencing and controlling public opinion to their way of thinking.
Jerry Johns, Ringgold, Ga.
***
Firing damages integrity of WUTC
I am deeply disturbed by the recent threat to WUTC’s integrity. During its pledge drive, WUTC touts its integrity in “delivering the news without prejudice and bias.” I cringe.
At worst, I suspect hypocrisy, and at best, circumstances beyond the station’s control, but the chilling realty is a recent assault on the First Amendment, which guarantees a free press unimpeded by intimidation and censorship by government.
My concern is over the firing of WUTC reporter Jacqui Helbert because some local legislators were displeased by one of her articles about LGBT issues.
In fairness to WUTC, the Chattanooga Times Free Press’s excellent coverage suggests that this firing came not from within the station but from without, from pressure from Chancellor Steven Angle and Senior Associate Vice Chancellor George Huddleston after they were threatened by our thuggish legislators. But I am reluctant to give support to a radio station that is not free from such outside pressure.
I thank the Times Free Press for its coverage and for the editorials from both sides of the paper condemning UTC’s actions.
Until editorial independence is re-established, all of WUTC’s self-congratulatory praise during its fundraising drive rings false.
Dr. Buzz Sienknecht, Signal Mountain
***
Why no added fees for license option?
The Tennessee General Assembly passed legislation saying that motorists will now be able to choose license plates with the phrase “In God We Trust” on them.
No extra fee is required for this option.
Why is no fee required for this optional language on a plate, as fees are required for other specialty plates?
John D. Beck, Ooltewah