NEWS - Letters to the Editor

I sent the attached letter about a week ago to Ms. Broady and have not recieved any response. I hope that she finds the time to respond:

Dear Ms. Broady,

I have serious concerns about your article on the Westin Spa featured in today's paper (Savannah Morning News.)

It is a large article with two large photos. The two very large photographs and the large type headlines are more appropriate to a paid advertisement than a business article. An article about the Darby Bank's CEO's positive, proactive approach to managing the bank's fiscal problems did not have any photos of anything related to the bank.

The spa article starts on the front page of the business section and continue inside the business section. It purports to be a "business article" about the changes in the spa at the Westin Hotel since it is no longer associated with the nationally known Greenbriar Spa out of West Virginia.

The first column consisting of about 4 paragraphs could have reported the essential "business" information totally. Those paragraphs report the information about the split with the Greenbriar; the hotel's decision to continue operating the spa; the spa's reinvention of itself. It also includes a description of the spa's changes in concept and decor which is appropriate to a business article.

After that, the article becomes an advertisement promoting the "Heavenly Spa by Westin". The entire section of the article on the inside page is unnecessary in an article which is supposed to be strictly business reporting.

Actually, the inside paragraphs are mainly devoted to the benefits of massage in general and the benefits of massage at the Westin specifically. Additionally, the article contains extensive descriptions of the massages and treatments offered at the Westin Spa plus descriptions based on the experience of the reporter. The article even provides the web site and phone number of the spa.

It makes the reader wonder if the reporter received the massage in exchange for the promotional article.

Other massage therapists in Savannah, who offer relaxing and therapeutic massage would like to receive a similar promotion in the newspaper.

I would be very happy to give you a massage to demonstrate my services if you would give me a feature article with photographs. You could make it a business article by reporting how a small business owner is coping during this difficult economy. You could describe the extra services I offer to make my business more competitive such as the stretching programs I design personally for each individual. Plus, my degree in psychology gives me the background to be sensitive to the personal concerns of each client.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Charles Dane LMT.

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www.savannahmassage.com