A better place for Moyers — outside
the "Friday night public affairs ghetto"

To the editors:

You say that “[Bill] Moyers has left and returned to PBS several times over the years” (“Moyers Returns in January with Weekly Hour,” Aug. 29).  In your list of Moyers’ program series you fail to mention his 27-part weekly series Listening to America With Bill Moyers in 1992 that I executive produced. The New York Times said it “elevated the dialogue of democracy” in an election year. 

It also may be the clearest parallel for Moyers & Company in 2012.  Listening to America was not relegated to a Friday night public-affairs ghetto, but shown mostly in primetime on weeknights by public television stations that wanted it.  WNET’s plan to broadcast the new Moyers’ series on Sunday nights at 6 p.m. is a very good sign; stations interested in civic and civil dialogue will broadcast it at desirable times. 

Bill Moyers is a magnificent television journalist who sets standards of excellence for public television. His presence is not an impediment to developing new talent or new formats. That is management’s challenge.  Public television has a history of innovation that it can build on. I wish it would.   

Howard Weinberg
Priority Productions Inc.
New York, NY

Diana Claitor's portrait of Texas town
"the best I have read in years"

To the editors:

Diana Claitor’s writing, investigation and understanding of the local “scene” in Marfa, Texas (“An Oasis for the Ears in Trans-Pecos,” Aug. 8, 2011) are the best I have read in years.

I have a mixed background concerning Marfa. My grandparents moved here in late 1920’s, and my mom was born here. I visited in the summer, spent 25 years in California and chose to move back.

The author didn’t fall in to cliché; she spoke to representatives from both sides of life, and she did financial research.

I love Marfa; it is a tough place to be, but wonderful.

Thank you for your efforts.

Scott May
Marfa, Texas

Copyright 2011 American University