CONGRATULATIONS ON today's edition (September 2) of your publication and your return to aggressive journalism. This is a welcome change from the over-abundance of soft, over-indulgent fun features which have been your focus in recent times. I'm all for human-interest stories, especially those which touch the heart, but I believe a newspaper, certainly one with a distinguished history like yours, needs to seek out the hard news and enlighten your readers to the reality.

Do not abandon standards

I'm well aware of the marketing imperative at a time when newspapers everywhere are fighting to stave off obsolescence in the face of the electronic revolution and readers are said to be reluctant to face anything except fun. I believe that a good news-paper - and The Gleaner has earned an honoured place among the best - should not abandon those readers who want to be informed on issues of moment, unpleasant or not.

Your highlighting our present status in matters like the economy, crime, jobs, etc., is a welcome return to The Gleaner's standard which so many of us knew and respected. At a time when the parliamentary Opposition is in hibernation, sleeping through its self-induced coma, it is good that there is still a voice in the news media awakening us to the challenge of the times. Thank you.

I am, etc.,

AVID READER

Kingston