Manuscripts

Correspondence

Description: Approx. 20 items: memos and letters on subjects such as: a (very) brief history of LAT advertising; Editor & Publisher article, 2/6/1971, "(LAT) news staff doubled... in 10 years" ; flurry of communications relating to controversial "Doonesbury" comic strip ; opinion writers ; more.
Type: Manuscripts(Opens in new tab)
Date: 1969 - 1979
Call number: mssLAT
Creator: Los Angeles Times (Firm)(Opens in new tab)
Provenance: The Los Angeles Times,
Restrictions: Open for use by qualified researchers and by appointment. Please contact Reader Services at the Huntington Library for more information.

Radio/TV Coverage - Transcripts

Manuscripts

Approx. 25 items. 3 examples of 60-sec. LAT "Radio Continuity" (ads); Transcripts on various subjects, including: failed talks between USA and Mexico on sale of natural gas to USA; Michael Jackson (KABC-radio) interview with LAT staffer David Shaw, in part on Shaw's articles on LAT errors in coverage; about a dozen transcripts reporting LAT's refusal to run comic strip "Doonesbury"; Jess Marlow (KNBC-tv) interview of David Halberstam, author of The Powers that Be, a book which generally praised (Otis C.-era) LAT;KABC-tv reporters comment on Howard Rosenberg's LAT article criticizing the station's coverage of the Guyana People's Temple tragedy (2 copies).

mssLAT

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Chronological File - July

Manuscripts

Approx. 60 items. Letters and memos. Subjects and correspondents include: (7/30) 2-pp. reply to reader who disliked an Oliphant cartoon, describing the people depicted as "hideous characters"; (7/29) witty reply in praise of columnist Jack Smith; (7/28) reply to Charles T. Munger on "unfounded myths"; (7/28) West mag. minimum number of pages and advertising issues; 3-pp. letter to Sen. Sam Ervin (no date--has light blue paper clip); (7/21) reply to reader (Mr. Unger) who considered the comic strip "Doonesbury" an insult, with NBW thoughts on the "vitality" of that strip; NBW provides a thumbnail bio of himself and advice for students of communications / journalism (to Dr. Edwin Haroldsen of BYU); (7/16/) 3-pp. reply to Ed Dooley, Editor, S.F. Examiner, who had requested stats on "minorities" employed at LAT; (7/15) reply to Dr. Frederick Stare, nutritionist, who received criticism for his Spec. Section in LAT on health foods; memo to Dick Smith on dealing with subscription cancellation letters; (7/2) letter to Mr. Cox about LAT coverage of massage parlors; etc.

mssLAT

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E - Miscellaneous Correspondence

Manuscripts

Approx. 40 items. Subjects include: moral values in motion pictures & indecency in advertising; "the red-neck tradition" in Southern politics (in letter to E. Etheridge, June 1969); the deal to reprint articles from The Economist; an opinion survey published in Editor & Publisher rating opinion writers, including LAT's, on ideology; Williams reaction to American Center for Education's (previously mentioned) survey alleged that 18% of LAT columnist were "radical liberal" and another 32% were "extreme liberal; etc.

mssLAT

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Chronological File - April

Manuscripts

Approx. 35 items. Letters, memos. Subjects and correspondents include: (4/29/'71) letter to W. Robert Walton of Universal Press Syndicate indicating that if "the price is right," NBW will order the strip "Doonesbury" for LAT; (4/29/'71) reply to Mrs. Dana Smith of Pasadena, who wrote criticizing LAT features such as Drew Pearson's columns, as well as cartoons by Interlandi and Conrad; staff vacancies; (4/7/'71) letter to Tom Simmons, Editor, Dallas Morning News, in which NBW does some politicking for ASNE elections; etc.

mssLAT

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Chronological File - June

Manuscripts

"Approx. 55 items. Letters, memos. Subjects and correspondents include: memo to Otis Chandler on "expanding the scope of Student Outlook..." (6/17); extended comments by NBW on the comic strip "Doonesbury" (6/9); editorial policy changes (6/8); on proposed new rates for L.A. Water & Power Dept.; (6/2/) "theme issues for West" and advertising volume for that magazine; (6/22) to reader on bond issues, public lands and ocean frontage in public lands. "

mssLAT

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Chronological File - October

Manuscripts

Approx. 75 items. Letters and memos. Subjects include: responses to readers' concerns about comic strips and the Sports section; responses to letters about columnist Paul Coates; Williams briefly explains to a reader why LAT endorsed Cranston for Senator; Matt Weinstock; urging readers to read the daily (Page 1) Column 1 story; editorial-like articles in other sections beyond the opinion section; William's critique of West magazine (issue of 10/20/1968); editorials being aimed at "the white middle class," because they are LAT's "basic audience"; addressing complaints on a "lack of 'community news'" and "too much society news"; Williams' is not thrilled about King Features Syndicate comic strip, "Boner's Ark"; note to Jim Murray on 8th anniversary of his joining LAT; editorial department heads meetings; letter to Irving Kaufman, U.S. Circuit Judge; penciled notes on "Craig St. Clair" notepaper; etc.

mssLAT

Correspondence

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