The cost of an ad

Re “Southland’s Rookie Hero,” advertisement, April 9

I am outraged that The Times, formerly one of the premier newspapers of the world, would be brought down so low as to accept advertising on a significant portion of its front page. I hope Tribune Co. got a ton of money for this image-destroying move -- it will need it, as The Times loses still more circulation.

I will not continue my subscription, as there appears to be less and less room for information and more and more for infomercials.

Suzanne Schechter

Oxnard

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I understand we’re in a nasty recession and newspapers are taking a beating, but your advertisement really turned me off. I’m sure the “article” provided needed revenue, but at what cost?

Alexander R. Wheeler

Lancaster

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What a horrendous concoction your weird, dog-leg front-page advertisement was. Must we make front pages as ugly as this? Do hard times require the total abandonment of good design?

George Delmerico

Santa Barbara

The writer is a former art director of the New York Times, the Village Voice and the Santa Barbara Independent.

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Although I understand you guys are under tremendous pressure to stay afloat, the front-page faux news story went too far. For goodness sake, it’s the front page, and your mock news story intrudes directly on Column One!

If I wanted to subscribe to TV Guide, I would have. By squandering this valuable journalistic real estate, you’ve now lost all (remaining) credibility as a serious newspaper.

The end has come. Kindly cancel my subscription, effective immediately.

Michael Bruce Abelson

Pasadena