I AGREE with the comments made by one of your South China Morning Post readers, on July 11, on the football star O.J. Simpson and the double murder case. I have been watching CNN for the past two weeks and O.J. Simpson's name came up several times. The fact that the entire preliminary hearing was shown live on CNN, was disgraceful. It was a waste of valuable television air-time. This case is just like any other double-murder case, except that a public figure is allegedly involved. If indeed O.J. Simpson is found guilty, it will be even harder for the judge to sentence him to death, because O.J. Simpson fans USA-wide will be crying out for mercy. No one can guarantee that protests and riots won't erupt as a consequence of a heavy sentence. Media coverage on the Simpson case has been excessive. There has been, amongst the press, an O.J. Simpson frenzy. CNN itself reports that media coverage of the case has been excessive. So, how can it justify bringing live coverage of the hearings and organising interviews with forensic scientists, coroners and scientists and having a phone-in, so viewers can express their views on the case? Surely, this is a hypocritical attitude to take. Does CNN have any idea what effect such intensive coverage will have on the case? By contrast, news reports on local Hong Kong networks, have carried nothing on the case. If the quality of news reporting on CNN continues to deteriorate, then I pray that BBC News will come back on air. One thing is for sure, I will not stay around to stare aimlessly at the TV screen, watching hour after hour of the Simpson trial when CNN broadcasts it in September, because I will be one of the many in Hong Kong who stop watching CNN. MICHAEL LEUNG Mei Foo Sun Chuen
