Letters to the Editor: You don't need a voice from the beyond to warn you against placing psychics on Page One

Los Angeles Times - Mar 18th, 2025
Open on Los Angeles Times

Recent letters to the editor of the L.A. Times highlight public dissatisfaction with the newspaper's editorial choices, particularly its decision to feature an article about psychics prominently amid significant national turmoil. Readers expressed frustration over the prioritization of a story on psychic readings while the country grapples with pressing issues such as executive coups, illegal deportations, and threats against democratic institutions. This criticism underscores a disconnect between the newspaper's editorial focus and the public's demand for coverage of critical, newsworthy events.

The letters reflect broader concerns about the state of journalism and media priorities in an era marked by significant political and social upheaval. As protests against authoritarianism surge and economic challenges mount, the L.A. Times' editorial decisions are seen as neglecting their duty to inform citizens about crucial developments affecting democracy and governance. This situation raises questions about the role of media in shaping public discourse and its responsibility to address the needs of an informed populace.

Story submitted by Fairstory

RATING

4.4
Moderately Fair
Read with skepticism

The letters to the editor provide a critical perspective on the Los Angeles Times' editorial decisions, specifically regarding the coverage of psychics over other pressing issues. While the letters raise important concerns about media priorities, the lack of specific evidence or examples to support the claims limits their accuracy and impact. The opinions expressed are clear and engaging, but the absence of detailed context or references diminishes the reliability and persuasiveness of the arguments.

The letters reflect genuine public interest in topics such as the state of democracy and economic conditions, which are timely and relevant to ongoing public discourse. However, the singular focus on criticism without acknowledging potential justifications for the editorial choices results in an imbalanced representation of perspectives. Overall, the letters highlight significant issues but would benefit from more substantiated claims and a broader range of viewpoints to enhance their credibility and influence.

RATING DETAILS

4
Accuracy

The letters to the editor contain several claims that lack substantiation within the text itself, leading to questions about their factual accuracy. For instance, the mention of an "executive coup, illegal firings, and illegal deportations" are significant assertions that require specific evidence or context to verify. Similarly, the claim about the economy being on a downward spiral is presented without any supporting economic data or references to credible sources.

The statement about the president doing a car commercial on the White House lawn is particularly specific and unusual, necessitating concrete evidence or reports to substantiate it. Additionally, claims of threats against judges and protests against authoritarianism are broad and require examples or reports to confirm their occurrence and context.

Overall, while the letters reflect genuine concerns, they are largely opinion-based and lack the factual support necessary for a high accuracy score. Specific examples or citations from credible sources would significantly enhance the verifiability of the claims made.

5
Balance

The letters to the editor predominantly reflect a critical perspective on the Los Angeles Times' editorial choices, specifically regarding the coverage of psychics. This focus on criticism suggests a lack of balance, as the letters do not present any counterarguments or perspectives that might justify the editorial decision to feature such a story.

While the letters highlight various significant issues that they believe should receive more coverage, such as protests and economic concerns, they do not acknowledge any potential value or rationale behind the Times' choice. This singular focus on criticism limits the range of viewpoints presented, resulting in a somewhat imbalanced representation of opinions.

6
Clarity

The language used in the letters is clear and straightforward, making it easy for readers to understand the authors' main points and criticisms. The structure of the letters follows a logical flow, beginning with an expression of dissatisfaction with the newspaper's editorial choices and then listing alternative topics that the authors believe deserve more attention.

However, the clarity is somewhat hindered by the lack of supporting evidence or detailed explanations for the claims made. While the tone is direct and unequivocal, the absence of detailed context or examples may leave some readers with questions about the validity of the assertions.

3
Source quality

The letters are primarily opinion pieces and do not cite any specific sources or evidence to support their claims. The lack of attribution or reference to credible sources diminishes the reliability and authority of the information presented.

Without references to authoritative sources or data, the letters rely heavily on the personal opinions and perceptions of the authors. This lack of source quality and diversity affects the overall reliability of the content, as readers have no way to verify the claims independently.

4
Transparency

The letters do not provide much in the way of context or methodology for their claims, which affects transparency. The authors do not disclose how they arrived at their conclusions or what specific events or data they are referencing.

Additionally, there is no explanation of potential conflicts of interest or biases that might influence the authors' perspectives. The lack of transparency in the basis for the claims and the absence of contextual information limit the reader's ability to fully understand the reasoning behind the opinions expressed.

Sources

  1. https://www.latimes.com/business/technology/story/2021-07-01/psychics-tarot-tiktok-cameo-clubhouse-creators
  2. https://news.va.gov/138540/va-secretary-addresses-benefits-rumors-video/
  3. https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-03-11/what-the-dead-have-to-say-to-the-living-a-psychic-reading-in-orange-county
  4. https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2025-03-09/donald-trump-race-gender-dei-pete-hegseth-cq-brown-college-military-amazon-target-boycott-robin-abcarian
  5. https://www.latimes.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/story/2025-03-18/letters-to-the-editor-you-dont-need-to-hear-a-voice-from-the-beyond-to-know-putting-psychics-on-page-one-is-wrong