THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 

                         THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
                 Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, June 4, 1994                    TAG: 9406040006 
SECTION: FRONT                     PAGE: A8    EDITION: FINAL  
SOURCE: Medium 
DATELINE: 940604                                 LENGTH:

READERS NEED A VARIETY OF OPINION

{LEAD} I was disappointed to find that the new editorial-page editor of the only newspapers in town announced that he will favor an unbalanced view of the world. Providing citizens with information and opinions on multiple sides of most public issues is a service traditionally, and probably best, accomplished by the print media.

I was lamenting your newspapers' recent abdication of this role when reading the column by Don Feder bemoaning the new epidemic of tolerance sweeping our society (``Tolerance thing getting out of hand,'' Perspectives, May 24). As if this title wasn't fitting enough for your papers' new monotonous menu of conservative fare, I was struck by the irony of Mr. Feder's comment that he listens only to National Public Radio's commentary when he is feeling masochistic.

{REST} Fortunately for him, radio listeners have the option of changing stations, but now, to get various perspectives on current events, local daily-newspaper readers have only the option of reading day-old newspapers from out of town.

Although your one-dimensional selection of editorial columnists is in evident deference to the region's conservative majority, I would think that most thoughtful readers would tire of the same unilateral opinions day after day, even if they share them. If it is to mirror the multiple facets of life, a good editorial page must be spiced with variety.

In this light, I actually enjoyed Mr. Feder's column because it reminded me that some people still advocate the ostrich's approach to personally unpleasant realities. Ignore divergent views or lifestyles and they will somehow go away.

But knowing that education of the citizenry is the key to a healthy democracy (in all aspects of the concept), for a newspaper to adopt the ostrich approach is irresponsible.

Although he resents those who tolerate his homophobia, Mr. Feder exercised his right to express it. And despite his protests to the contrary, those who have the opposite view deserve their say on the same pages. Fans of Mr. Feder also deserve the opportunity to read those opposing views, and if they are feeling masochistic, they may enjoy it.

Do The Virginian Pilot and The Ledger-Star sell their conservative audience so short that they fear it will reject the papers outright for publishing some liberal columnists? I don't know the marketing reality of this consideration, but in this one- newspaper region to deny readers a broad view of their world is a disservice to the community.

J. KEVIN MARKWELL

Virginia Beach, May 26, 1994 by CNB