Brass knuckles.

Robert Schlesinger ("Spars and Stripes," May) frets that Stars & Stripes readers may not get "unvarnished" news. Regular reading of the newspaper would take away that fear. It is published without censorship or influence--and with an effort at balance throughout, something missing in Schlesinger's article. He quotes none of the several editors who did not believe the series "Ground Truth" was "watered down," and rally he passing states that the independent ombudsman's review had strong praise for the work. In quoting from an internal memo of mine aligning balance in reporting with continued independence, he neglects to tell readers that the idea is not mine, or the Department of Defense's, but that of the U.S. Congress when, in 1991, it affirmed First Amendment protections for Stars & Stripes.

Nor does the author tell readers that "Ground Truth" was recently cited in the Scripps Howard annual journalism competition for "Service to the First Amendment" And he makes no mention of the American Legion's annual competition, open to all media, large and small, which awarded "Ground Truth" a citation for "Excellence in Journalism." The judges of these prestigious competitions evidently saw the series as a courageous project, and not one that had been "watered down."

David Mazzarella

Editorial Director, Stars & Stripes

Washington, DC

Schlesinger responds: Congratulations to Stars & Stripes for winning awards for the Ground Truth series. One wonders how rough more notice it would have accrued if it had run unvarnished. While reporters routinely bridle under editorial control and grouse about cuts and changes, when a reporting team cries foul with such unanimity it is indicative of more than routine interference and something beyond an effort to be fair and balanced.