Via fax: (212) 556-4188

April 14, 2000

Attn: John Landman, Metropolitan Editor

Dear Mr. Landman,

Thank you for speaking with us last Tuesday regarding the Times' non-coverage of the Greek Independence Day Parade, which was held on Fifth Avenue on March 26th.

Your points that New York City hosts hundreds of parades and celebrations, and that the priority of news items is necessarily fluid, are well taken. However, only a select handful of parades still command the prestige of New York's premier venue, Fifth Avenue, and attract the large numbers that the Greek Independence Day Parade does. As we had discussed, the parade included thousands of marchers and tens of thousands of spectators as well as many luminaries including Mayor Giuliani, CIA Director George Tenet, and Hillary Clinton, who attended the pre-parade celebration.

Every year, the Empire State Building is adorned with blue and white lighting, heralding the coming of this celebration. It is fair to say that this parade has become a New York institution--a vibrant expression of pride in the heritage of one of our City's largest and most prominent immigrant groups, a revered New York tradition, and a spectacle of color, festivity and remembrance.

Given the well-founded perception that the Times' coverage of Hellenic issues has become increasingly negative, many have expressed deep concerns about the fact that this was the first year that the Times failed to cover the parade--the one event that is perhaps most central to the celebration of the Greek-American heritage for New Yorkers.

Your acknowledgment that the Metropolitan section of the Times has been expanding its areas of interest and reportage is welcome, and we look forward to a resumption of the prominent coverage the Greek Independence Day Parade has normally enjoyed.

Thank you again for your time regarding this matter; your offer of continued communication regarding this and other issues of interest to the Greek-American community is greatly appreciated.

Very truly yours,

P. D. Spyropoulos, Esq.
Executive Director

Paul J. Kutscera, Esq.

American Hellenic Media Project
PO Box 1150
New York, NY 10028-0008
ahmp@hri.org
www.ahmp.org

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