Good journalism
Sir: The Times was certainly a great news- paper when Britain ruled the waves, but not as Peregrine Worsthorne remembered it (`The battle for good journalism', 1 March). Long before reporters of poplllar newspapers learned to punctuate their stories with 'lots of verbal colour', its most famous correspondents filled columns will it. William Howard Russell's reports of the Charge of the Light Brigade and the First Battle of Bull Run are obvious examples. The paper ceased to be great when John Walter III failed to realise that the repeal of the stamp tax instigated a newspaper revolution no less fundamental than the so-called new technology. It steadily de- clined largely because its editors were primarily concerned with reflecting the opinions of the ruling class'. Eventually Geoffrey Dawson ignored the reports ef his correspondents in central Europe and appeased Hitler. As for errors, I noticed two in my review of a book in the same issue of the Specta- tor. Murdoch moved the Times and other titles to and not from Wapping. Mir! Walter II installed the Koenig and 11°` Loenig press, but mistakes are made in the best magazines and newspapers.
Louis Heren
Fleet House, Vale of Health, London NW3
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